Public Healthcare in Kogi State; Problems and Possible Remedies by KLM

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ABSTRACT

Public health is an important element of national security, public health not only functions to provide adequate and timely medical care but also track, monitor, and control disease outbreak. Kogi state healthcare had suffered various set backs over the years hence, there is need to tackle the problem.

This report aims to review the healthcare system in the state and to provide possible recommendations to the worsening state of healthcare in the state.

To give up-to-date recommendations for Kogi state healthcare system, it is good to look at the overall architecture of health systems which is aimed at reviewing the dynamics of healthcare in the state. There is an increasing role of automated-based medical records, intelligence and surveillance systems, in addition to the traditional manual pattern of document retrieval in advanced medical setting such as those in National Hospital Abuja and Federal Medical Centre Keffi, Nasarawa state.

The Kogi state healthcare system is poorly developed and managed. No adequate facilities and functional surveillance systems are developed. To achieve success in healthcare in this modern era, a system well grounded in routine surveillance and medical intelligence as the backbone of the health sector is necessary, besides adequate management couple with strong leadership principles.

INTRODUCTION

There is no doubt in the fact that the HEALTH constitutes a priority in the life of every individual because it determines to a great extent, the level at which man functions in the society. Hence, HEALTH is that quality of life that enables an individual life most and serve his community best. The popular saying, “Health is Wealth”, remains a fact that HEALTH is a major determinant of success in a man’s life. It guarantees hope and progress for individual in any society.

To Protect, Preserve, Maintain and Promote the health of a society, it is absolutely necessary to provide them with comprehensive healthcare services. Healthcare services utilization is very crucial and of great importance to the people of Kogi State.

THE CHALLENGES OF HEALTHCARE DELIVERY IN KOGI STATE

  1. Lack of personnel development in the healthcare services
  2. Inadequate provision of essential drugs in all the facilities in the state
  3. Lack of proper immunization programs
  4. Poor treatment of epidemic diseases
  5. Poor funding
  6. Lack of qualified personnel
  7. Lack of proper supervision of health care facilities and personnel
  8. Zero motivation of health care workers towards service delivery especially in the rural areas
  9. Lack of bonuses and incentives programs for healthcare workers especially in the rural area
  10. Bad attitude towards government facilities.

THE WAY FORWARD FOR THE KOGI STATE HEALTH CARE SYSTEM/RECOMMENDATIONS

Several flaws in Kogi State healthcare system could have been averted through adequate management information system (MIS), which is supposed to be the first line of approach to developing the Nigerian healthcare system.

Of course, there is a long list of barriers which lie on the pattern of leadership, infrastructures, man power challenges, clinical training, standardized diagnostic instruments, etc.

The reforms and changes made to retain health security seem not to have made positive effect on the healthcare system. Considering the threats of health insecurity, there is therefore immense need to revitalize the Kogi State healthcare system and provide specific project design to enhance cooperation and efficiency.

To account for the modern day needs of the state, healthcare delivery system must adequately meet the following recommendations;

  1. Government should be transparent in the recruitment process
  2. Government should allocate 15% of annual budget to the heath sector and work towards meeting the UN standard  on health Budget
  3. Government should improve personnel development and as well organize training and  re-training for the staff  to keep them up to date with developments across the globe
  4. Government should ensure the provision of essential drug to hospitals
  5. Improve on immunization programs
  6. Promote treatment of epidemic diseases to help the less privilege who often gave up due to the huge resourves needed for such treatment
  7. Improve food supply and nutrition
  8. Improve material and child care, and family planning
  9. Government should sensitized and educate people on prevailing health problems and the methods of preventing and controlling them.
  10. Government should provide performance based incentives on a regular basis
  11. Government should make sure they should be a strong knowledge base research culture
  12. Finally, Government should set up committees to verify delivery of health services

CONCLUSION

The huge problems encountered by the Kogi State healthcare system could partly be due to the absence of modern management information system which holds the key to successful medical leadership, as well as healthcare delivery.

Hence, there it necessary to setup a model of MIS systems for action to suit the interest of the people. If adequately managed, MIS system model for the state healthcare will turn out to be one of the Cinderella of Nigerian healthcare systems.

The healthcare system in Kogi State will continued to suffer major infrastructural, and personnel deficit, in addition to poor public health management if reasonable amount of money is not allocated to it and properly implemented with a good policy frame work.

The healthcare system is poorly developed and has suffered several backdrops, especially at the Local Government levels. No adequate and functional facilities and surveillance systems are developed and hence poor management and tracking of record system, monitoring the outbreak of communicable diseases, bioterrorism, chemical poisoning, etc.

To achieve success in healthcare in this modern era, a system well grounded in routine surveillance and medical intelligence as the backbone of the health sector is necessary, besides adequate management couple with strong leadership principles.

APRECIATION

Kogi Liberation Movement wishes to say a big thank you to our health policy committee members: Mr Saidu Danjuma, Mr Onuche Eleojo Samson, Mr Ibrahim Idris, Mr Ugbede Daniel Abutu and all others who contributed immensely to getting this report ready.

Signed:
Salihu Adam Jiddah
Founder: Kogi Liberation Movement (KLM).


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