Anguwan Biri Primary Health Centre (PHC) in Nasarawa ‘C’ Ward in Chanchaga Local Government (LGA) of Niger State provides integrated primary healthcare services, including antenatal care (ANC), delivery, postnatal care, immunisation, treatment of minor illnesses, outreach activities, and family planning (FP). According to Adamu Shaáibu Kuta, the officer-in-charge (OIC), even though the PHC is a small facility with limited staff, it caters to a monthly average of 50-90 women who seek family planning services.
In May 2023, 44 new clients and 45 returning clients were recorded. The OIC, who doubles as the FP focal person, credits the increased turnout to the availability of free services and consistent sensitisation during community outreaches and ANC counselling.
A resident, Aisha Muhammad, embraced child spacing after learning about it during ANC at Anguwan Biri PHC, highlighting the importance of allowing her body and baby to gain strength before another pregnancy. However, Aisha is concerned about the availability of free contraceptives. “At times, the government-provided contraceptives are unavailable, requiring payment for the service,” she said. She sometimes finds herself unable to afford the cost of injections, resulting in her skipping them. The OIC revealed that when contraceptives run out, they obtain supplies from the Drug Revolving Fund (DRF) at a subsidised rate, selling them to clients at a lower price.
Anguwan Biri PHC is not enrolled in the Basic Health Care Provision Funds (BHCPF) scheme, which provides free minimum basic healthcare to the poorest and most vulnerable Nigerians through PHCs, resulting in shortages of essential services and out-of-pocket payments. Access to BHCPF, as seen in neighbouring Tayi PHC, would greatly enhance service delivery.
To ensure sustained access to family planning services and improve Maternal, New-born, and Child Health (MNCH) in Anguwan Biri PHC, residents and healthcare workers call on the Chanchaga LGA authority and Niger State government to:
- Ensure an uninterrupted supply of free contraceptives to the facility.
- Enroll Anguwan Biri PHC in the BHCPF scheme.
- Deploy an adequate number of healthcare workers to the facility.