Abstract
Primary Health Care (PHC) provides the most viable route towards achieving health related sustainable development goals (SDGs) and is crucial to the achievement of other SDGs. Given the importance of primary health care, nations across the world devote considerable effort and resources towards establishing and maintaining effective PHC systems. In Nigeria, domestic spending on the health sector has been declining while foreign donations towards improving primary health care have been on the increase. However, recent global trends and the imminent expiry of deadlines for a number of foreign donations point toward a not too distant future without foreign donations for health care system improvements. This constitutes a development challenge. Even though foreign donations have yielded some positive health outcomes, the effect of foreign donations on the primary health care system is unclear. The study set out to examine the amount and effect of foreign donations on the primary health care system in Nigeria. The paper combined qualitative methodology and analysis of literature to investigate the present state of primary healthcare, identify the setbacks to full development of primary healthcare in Nigeria and examined the effects of foreign donations on the primary health care system in Nigeria. The paper found that foreign donations have been increasing but have also led to the perpetuation of a non-committal attitude towards increasing domestic spending on health and the neglect of health system strengthening. Therefore, the paper recommends timely and steady increase in domestic funding for health along with the strengthening of the health system towards creating an effective primary health care system with or without foreign donations.
Highlights
The right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health is one of the most fundamental human rights in the constitution of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2008)
This paper examines the effects of foreign donations on the success of Primary Health Care (PHC) in Nigeria and points the way forward towards better health outcomes for primary healthcare in Nigeria
This paper examines the effect of foreign funds and donations, which are vital, needed and well-intentioned, on the development and sustainability of a functional primary health care system in Nigeria
Summary
The right to enjoy the highest attainable standard of health is one of the most fundamental human rights in the constitution of the World Health Organization (World Health Organization, 2008). All member countries of the United Nations (UN) have the mandate to provide basic, affordable and universal healthcare for their citizens. Primary Health Care (PHC) provides the most viable route towards achieving the aforementioned mandate. Primary Health Care is defined as a whole-of-society approach to health and well-being based on the needs, peculiarities and preferences of individuals, families and communities. PHC serves as the first contact of individuals, families and communities with the national health system. Primary healthcare is a deliberate and systematic effort to develop a health care system that caters to the needs of majority populations and poor citizens, at an affordable and sustainable cost and with a guarantee of quality health care service through government primary health care centres and faith-based clinics in rural and suburban areas, while secondary and tertiary health facilities serve urban populations. The primary healthcare system is designed to be cost effective and designated as the first point of call for all, irrespective of the social or economic status
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