CHALLENGES AND PROSPECTS OF COMMUNITY HEALTH PRACTICE IN NIGERIA

Abstract

Health is a fundamental and universal human right transcending gender, geographical location, and social status. Access to quality healthcare is essential for individuals to lead long, happy and fulfilling lives. Therefore, it is imperative that there is accessible, acceptable, available and affordable healthcare services at all levels of healthcare particularly at the primary or community level. This ensures that individuals can receive timely and effective care, promoting overall well-being and quality of life. The community healthcare delivery system serves as the central hub of healthcare, bridging primary, secondary and tertiary care. Thus, in a densely populated country like Nigeria, where numerous communities coexist, it is crucial to evaluate the challenges impacting the healthcare practice. This paper aims to highlight the challenges of healthcare practice as well as determine whether Nigeria’s community health practice model aligns with the World Health Organization’s (WHO) principles of providing available, accessible, acceptable and affordable healthcare. The paper adopts doctrinal research design from analytical approach. The research identified challenges such as poor infrastructure, financial and geographical constraints, cultural and social factors among others. It recommends that Nigeria should adopt the WHO’s principles to improve its community healthcare practice.