The United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) emphasized the critical role of Primary Health Care (PHC) as the foundation of the health sector. Dr. Eduardo Celades, Chief of Health for UNICEF Nigeria, made this statement on Wednesday in Dutse, Jigawa State, during a two-day media dialogue and field trip focused on ‘Strengthening PHC Systems: The UNICEF PHC Memorandum of Understanding in Jigawa State.’ This event was organized by UNICEF in collaboration with the Child Rights Information Bureau of the Federal Ministry of Information.
The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), signed in 2022, involves the Jigawa State Government, the Federal Government, the Nigeria Governors Forum, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and UNICEF. Its aim is to enhance routine immunization and strengthen PHC systems, ultimately reducing mortality rates, particularly among women and children.
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Dr. Celades stated, “Primary health care is essential. For us, it serves as the cornerstone of the health sector. Approximately 90% of diseases can be addressed within primary health care. However, it is not just about treating diseases; prevention is equally important.”
“Primary health care serves as the foundation for delivering preventive services, such as vaccinations and immunizations. Over the past 50 years, immunization has saved more than 154 million lives. Therefore, PHC is the ideal platform for providing these essential services. However, the reality is that PHC remains underdeveloped in Nigeria. By ‘weak,’ I mean there are not enough healthcare workers, often poor data quality, inadequate funding, and a fragile supply chain.”
“This is our mission at UNICEF: to strengthen primary health care, particularly in the areas that need it most, ensuring that no one is left behind.”
Dr. Shehu Sambo, Director of Primary Health Care in Jigawa State, highlighted that the state is leveraging resources from the Gavi Memorandum of Understanding to transform the narrative of PHC for positive outcomes in the region.
