Abstract:

Introduction: Primary health care, though supposed to be the bedrock of the country`s health care policy, is catering for less than 20% of the potential beneficiaries. This study is aimed at looking at the current status in primary health care services in rural communities in Nigeria, the gaps in services and possible ways to address them.

Methods: Secondary data was obtained from results of search for the National health policy review report 2008, National health and demographic survey, Millennium Development Goal, World and Africa report 2014 and UNDP 2014 report for Nigeria.

Results: Nigeria is still short of 2015 Primary Health Care targets with under 5 mortality rate at 94 deaths per 1000 live birth in 2012, maternal mortality at 350 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births and TB burden still at 5.0 per 100,000 in 2012. Challenges include amongst others poor financing, poor strategy and inter-sectorial collaboration.

Conclusion: Increase in government funding with good strategy and inter-sectorial collaboration while involving community will help in reducing the present gaps in primary health services.

References:

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