The Lagos State Primary Health Care Board (LSPHCB) has announced its plan to recruit more healthcare professionals and equip more primary healthcare facilities to increase access to healthcare services at the primary level.
The Permanent Secretary of LSPHCB, Dr Ibrahim Mustafa who disclosed this in an interview in Lagos on Tuesday acknowledged the negative impact of the brain drain popularly known as ‘Japa’ on healthcare service delivery as there is currently shortage of healthcare professionals. He however, gave insights on the state government’s proactive approach to addressing the challenges.
According to him, the government is putting in place exit replacement system, to ensure automatic replacement of personnel.
Dr Mustafa explained that the board carried out a substantial recruitment exercise in 2022, where 980 staff were recruited, and there are plans to double the number in 2024, as captured in 2024 budget.
“The renewed emphasis on the primary level of care aligns with Lagos State’s commitment to improving healthcare services at the grassroots, strengthening health systems, and enhancing early detection and response to epidemics.”
On healthcare infrastructure development, Dr. Mustafa revealed that “the rehabilitation of 22 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across the state’s five divisions is nearing completion.”
Additionally, plans are underway to construct four new PHCs based on the state’s prototype design. This ongoing effort is crucial for timely responses to surges in healthcare service demand.
Dr. Mustafa emphasised that the revitalisation of the state’s PHCs system aims to elevate the quality and sustainability of healthcare service delivery, ultimately working towards achieving universal health coverage.
Citing data from the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Mustafa highlighted the pivotal role of Primary Health Care (PHC) in achieving health-related Sustainable Development Goals.
WHO estimates that scaling up PHC interventions in low and middle-income countries can potentially save 60 million lives and increase average life expectancy by 3.7 years by 2030.
The LSPHCB’s comprehensive approach to recruitment, facility rehabilitation, and PHC system revitalisation underscores the commitment to advancing healthcare accessibility and quality in Lagos State.