APHPN calls for collective action to strengthen PHC system

Dr Terfa Kene, President of Association of Public Health Physicians of Nigeria (APHPN), says insecurity, poverty and systemic gaps remain major threats to public health outcomes in spite of ongoing government efforts.
Kene made this known during an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja.
According to him, though Nigeria has faced multiple public health issues over the years, its efforts in addressing them are steps in the right direction.
He, however, noted that persistent structural challenges continued to undermine progress, emphasising that insecurity remained a critical factor affecting health service delivery and access in many communities.
He explained that insecurity disrupts healthcare systems as health workers flee affected areas, leaving facilities unattended and limiting implementation of programmes such as immunisation and other essential interventions vulnerable communities nationwide.
Kene identified poverty as another major driver of poor health outcomes, describing its relationship with disease as inseparable and deeply rooted in Nigeria’s development challenges across communities nationwide at present time.
“We are talking about poverty, poverty and disease are twins and anywhere there is poverty, disease follows.
“Once 70 per cent of people are in poverty, all the indicators around health will become poor,” he said.
He added that declining purchasing power affected access to food and healthcare, worsening key health indicators such as maternal and infant mortality across the country’s population groups significantly nationwide,
Kene said that without addressing poverty, public health interventions would yield limited results, as many Nigerians cannot afford basic healthcare services or preventive treatments when needed across communities nationwide.
He also highlighted weaknesses in the primary healthcare system, noting that focus on infrastructure without community involvement undermined effectiveness and sustainability of health interventions at the grassroots level.
“Primary health care is not about infrastructure alone, it is about what the community can do in the spirit of self-reliance,” he said.
He explained that unstable power supply also affected medical practice, including surgeries and patient care, contributing to stress, inefficiency and poor work-life balance among healthcare professionals.
On solutions, Kene called for collective responsibility, urging communities, individuals, government and development partners to collaborate in strengthening primary healthcare systems and improving service delivery nationwide.
.NAN