Government at all levels have been asked to make training and retraining of health personnel, motivation as well as providing enabling environment for them to practiced has been advocated as measures needed to make primary health care system meet the purpose for which it is intended.
A guest speaker, Prof. Gbenga Abodunrin, a Professor of Public Health, LAUTECH, Ogbomosho, made the recommendation while making presentation at
Kogi State Medical Students Association (KOMSA) National, First National Health Symposium with the theme Health Care Delivery System in Nigeria and a sub theme; The role of primary Health Care.
Prof. Gbenga stressed the need to develop health infrastructure,
reduce bureaucracy in primary health institutions as a way of making PHCs functional.
While pointing out that the place of PHCs in the health care delivery system remains very important, called on the Government to equip PHCs with modern equipments, make rural practice encouraging as well as adequate funding of health care delivery systems.
The Health Professional said if the PHCs must meet the purpose intended, the need to make them have the essential commodities and improve on the management system, reduce quackery and make training of health personnel very important remains sacrosanct.
Prof. Gbenga notes with confidence that the Country has very rich proficient health professionals doing well, called on the Federal Government to partner foreign company’s on the need to equip PHCs with the needed infrastructure and medicaments.
Prof. Gbenga observed that poor political will by the country’s leader, remaining donor dependency and encouraging for medical tourism has affected the establishment and performances of PHCs.
Prof. Gbenga urged the students to acquire the needed skills as a way of enhancing performances ad well as competing favourably with there foreign counterparts and also have innovative ideas and for Alumni Association to always come to the aide of health institutions as way to encourage practice of the medical profession he noted help reposition the PHCs.
In a goodwill message at the symposium, Dr. Baoku Shola, Kogi State NMA Chairman, urged the Students to see patriotism and the oath of service delivery drive them as passion to practice the profession
Oguche Wisdom Onu, KOMSA National President, said the symposium theme: Health Care Delivery System in Nigeria and a sub theme; The role of primary Health Care has become apt in view of the role PHCs Play in the lives of the people.
The symposium featured a panelists made up Dr. Aledare Adekunle, Executive Secretary, KSPHCIA, Dr. Onifade Funmilayo, Consultant Family Physician, Aminat Adewale, AHF amongst others.