Building up resources: Investment in health infrastructure bodes well for the state’s future

Improving human development indicators, including health provision, is a key priority for both federal and state governments, and Oyo State is no exception. The government is investing in social services, which commanded 29% of the 2013 state budget, with health receiving allocations of N3.85bn ($24.25m). However, to meet Millennium Development Goals and address total demand, a sizeable increase in private sector investment will also be required. The provision of health care in Nigeria is defined by a series of challenges and constraints. The country’s public network of health-related facilities, for example, which includes clinics and hospitals at the community, state and federal levels, has for decades been underfunded. Consequently, a substantial percentage of Nigeria’s heath infrastructure is currently in a state of disrepair.

STATE SPECIFIC: Information provided by the Oyo State Ministry of Health puts the number of medical facilities in the state at 1620 public and private institutions offering professional medical services. An inventory of public sector facilities show a total of 4822 beds spread across two teaching hospitals, three specialist hospitals, four state hospitals, 28 general hospitals, 68 health clinics and 601 primary health centres (PHCs). The Oyo State Ministry of Health aims to have a general hospital in all 33 local government areas to act as a referral centre for PHCs by end-2013. According to ministry officials, work is ongoing at general hospitals and comprehensive health centres, with N1bn ($6.3m) allocated in 2013 for the continued development of LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso, matching capital expenditure under the previous budget in 2012.

KEEPING UP: While the public health care system is meant to serve the entire population, most local players – private and public alike – agree that in its current state it is unable to do so. Some areas have fared worse than others in terms of public health provision. This pattern is mirrored at the state level. In Oyo State, there are still large gaps in health care delivery, particularly in rural areas, despite an influx of funding to improve the state’s services. Public secondary and tertiary facilities and many of the 905 registered private care services are located in major urban centres, which means semi-urban and rural areas – which constitute 75% of the state – are underserved. The government has over the past two years established three mobile health clinics in the state, and is investing a further N50m ($315,000) for similar services in 2013.

SPENDING: More broadly, substantial sums are being spent to reconstruct and renovate existing general hospitals. In 2013, N1bn ($6.3m) has been allotted for the reconstruction and renovation of heath facilities at Ring Road State Hospital, Jericho General (specialists), Jericho Nursing Home, and Oni Memorial Children’s Hospital. An additional N150m ($945,000) will be spent on procurement of medical equipment for these facilities, while the same sum will be also spent on other general hospitals in the state. When Ring Road State Hospital is complete, it will become the third tertiary care unit in Oyo State, after University College Hospital and Ladoke Akintola University Teaching Hospital.

TRAINING: Efforts to enhance access to improved health care services are also being supported by investment in human resources, as the existing labour pool is unable to sufficiently staff health services in the state. A total of N2bn ($12.6m) has been allocated over two years for the LAUTECH Teaching Hospital Ogbomoso, and renovations are under way at local teaching institutions such as the School for Nursing and Midwifery, and the College for Advanced Nursing Studies.

Developing manpower is a tough proposition for the state government, which must create favourable working conditions to attract skilled professionals to the state and stem brain drain to Lagos, Abuja or overseas. Authorities were able to negotiate a settlement that ended a seven-month doctors’ strike with approval of enhanced salary structure for medical personnel. This, in addition to improvement in the local environment and quality of life in the state, should encourage young professionals to stay on and work in its care facilities.