There is no doubt about the fact that the unending global economic instability has affected both the standard of living and the cost of maintaining health. Much as health is wealth, wealth cannot be taken away from the road to good health. We need wealth to keep fit, to protect, maintain or restore our health. Unfortunately, the high cost of living and other necessities needed to keep going have beclouded the average man of the need to take proper care of himself.
In many parts of the world and in units of our nation, people suffer from diseases caused by malnourishment, malnutrition and other illnesses they would have averted if they had the knowledge of how to prevent them. The same goes for those who have an assumed knowledge of where to go to for remedy but die in their search for it due to the long distance between their vicinity and the unknown health centre.
It is no news that several communities in the state and nation at large exist without accessible health centers especially those far from the direct reach of the government. People in such communities thrive basically on herbs which do them more harm than good as there is no dosage for it usage.
The essence of this piece is to draw the attention of the government on the need to create more accessible and effective community health centers at places within citizens’ reach. It is ridiculous to brag of free health care services to people who cannot even afford to pay their way to the nearest health centre in town.
People in the rural areas have often fallen victims of chronic and dangerous diseases due to their inability to access health care providers. First, they live in areas too far from health centers and the conditions of their environment may pose a threat to mobile health care givers injecting vaccinations.
The need for the creation of health centers in communities can therefore not be excused. Community health centers are meant to provide a broad range of services and health promotion activities to local populations particularly those who have or are at risk of the poorest health and have the greatest economic and social needs. It focuses on health promotion and disease prevention and management which are designed to improve the health and wellbeing of local residents by encouraging people to actively participate in their own health care, promoting prevention of lifestyle-related diseases and conditions, developing healthcare programs and activities to improve social and physical environments in the community. They also provide counseling and support services, health promotion activities, dental health, aged care, alcohol and drug programs, maternal and child health services, mental health services, disability services, outreach services, rehabilitation programs, and others. They are also to offer affordable health care services to all local residents regardless of income, although fees apply. These fees are charged for services according to the patient’s ability to pay and can be negotiated if difficult.
It is disheartening to note that the public health centers within the state are not living up to the above standards. A look at a typical health centre in the state will give a clear picture of the non-importance attached to government work. Apart from days when they are on official duties, the Health Centre at Ikot Okubo Offot in Uyo resume work by 10am and close by 2pm, the surroundings are very unkempt, stinky and dirty with the beddings and desks begging to be cleaned of dust. Sadly, this is the only public health centre available to citizens of Ikot Okubo Obio Offot, Anua Obio, Obio Etoi, Afaha, Effiat Offot, Use, and it distant vicinity.
The dearth of public health centers within citizens’ reach can be said to be the cause of the spread of dangerous diseases. This is because the information needed to stay on guard does not get to people at all and when the vaccines are given out for free treatment; those in inaccessible areas are deprived of being treated because of long distances.
It is agreed that a lot of resources will be needed to take good health to peoples’ doorsteps but the government can begin by endorsing outlets with qualified medical personnel as it was done during the last polio vaccination exercise. Such door-to-door approach will go a long way in improving public health as well as reduce the spread of killer-diseases.
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