By Folasade Akpan

The Federal Capital Territory Administration has reaffirmed its commitment to strengthening Primary Healthcare Centres across the territory, outlining efforts to improve maternal health outcomes and expand services for women through investment.

Dr Adedolapo Fasawe reiterated the administration’s commitment at a symposium in Abuja, stressing that aligning research, policy and practice was crucial for improving maternal care and strengthening Primary Healthcare Centres capacity.

She explained that the administration would intensify training, strengthen supervision and expand digital support for frontline workers to enhance maternal outcomes and ensure Primary Healthcare Centres provided timely and effective care.

She noted Nigeria faced a maternal mortality burden, stressing that many deaths occurred in Primary Healthcare settings where limited skilled staff and long waiting times prevented mothers from receiving timely care.

She added that Primary Healthcare Centres remained overstretched in spite of serving as the first point of care for pregnant women, stressing that task shifting was crucial for expanding access to maternal services.

She cautioned that although Nigeria’s task-shifting policy had existed for years, implementation remained weak due to unclear role boundaries, contested mandates, inadequate training, poor supervision and shortages within Primary Healthcare Centres.

Presenting his findings, Dr Francis Ayomoh warned that the Primary Healthcare workforce remained fragile, noting that many workers served as unpaid volunteers and stressing the need for staffing and better support.

He described task shifting as a policy dilemma, noting that although necessary, it must be strengthened to maintain quality, urging government investment in human resources, supervision and employment of lower-cadre workers.

He urged health stakeholders to prioritise patient welfare, stressing that better workforce conditions, adequate training and supervision remained essential for enhancing maternal health delivery across Primary Healthcare Centres in the territory.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the study, conducted across Abuja Municipal Area Council, Bwari and Kuje, provided insights into the Primary Healthcare system in the territory from frontline workers. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)

Edited by Abiemwense Moru