Proposals for health services in northern Nigeria.

Abstract

This paper outlines practical proposals for the implementation of primary health care in the Bodinga province of Nigeria. The inhabitants of Bodinga are Hausa Moslems, and their culture, religion, and traditional authority structure differ from those of other ethnic groups in Nigeria. The success of any health program in Bodinga is dependent upon careful consideration of these factors. The recommendations presented focus on 4 issues: community participation and the Hausa Islamic culture, health education, social services, and the potential role of traditional medicine. Given the Hausa culture's regard for traditional rulers, district and village heads should be converted 1st; they can then be used as instruments for the promotion of the basic health scheme. Community participation could be followed by a health education program aimed at the prevention of infectious diseases caused by an unclean environment and consumption of contaminated food. Female health inspectors can be used to advise villagers on child care and family planning. At present, there is no hospital or rural health center in Bodinga, and access roads connecting the villages are inadequate. Each village needs a small clinic and each district needs a rural health center or a hospital at each government headquarters. The basic health scheme requires staff that are locally trained and responsive to the needs and priorities of the community served. An official integration of traditional medical practitioners with modern medical personnel is advised. The Nigerian government must be involved, politically and financially, in this project.