- Adifase PHC is improving access to quality maternal, child and family healthcare services in Ibadan South-West through revitalised primary healthcare.
- The facility provides free antenatal care, immunisation, family planning, newborn circumcision and 24-hour maternity services despite infrastructure challenges.
- Oyo State Government says ongoing investments in primary healthcare are expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare across the state.
Adifase Primary Health Care Centre (PHC) in the Apata/Odo Ona area of Ibadan South-West Local Government Area is transforming healthcare delivery in its host community, providing accessible maternal, child and family health services while earning the confidence of residents despite persistent operational challenges.
Eko Hot Blog reports that the facility, rehabilitated in 2021 through funding from the Oyo State Government, the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) and development partners, has become a major point of care for pregnant women, nursing mothers, children and other residents seeking affordable and quality healthcare.
For many residents, the PHC has become a trusted destination for safe childbirth and emergency care.
One of the beneficiaries, Mrs. Badmus, recounted how she was promptly attended to by health workers after arriving at the facility in labour shortly after midnight.
“The security man opened the gate and the nurses attended to me immediately,” she said.
Mrs. Badmus, who has delivered all four of her children at the facility over the past 17 years, attributed her continued patronage to the quality of services provided.
“If the service was not satisfactory, I wouldn’t keep coming back,” she added.
Another resident, Mrs. Bukola Moses, who recently relocated to Ibadan, described the facility as affordable and patient-friendly.
“The nurses are empathetic and the environment is decent,” she said.
She explained that antenatal care at the facility is free, noting that she only paid about N5,000 for some medical tests.
Health workers at the centre continue to educate expectant mothers on the importance of regular antenatal visits, proper nutrition, exclusive breastfeeding and avoiding self-medication or unlicensed maternity homes.
Speaking during a health education session, Nurse Gloria Ovhan urged pregnant women to register early for antenatal care and make use of the facility’s 24-hour services.
She noted that regular antenatal care enables healthcare workers to detect complications early and significantly reduces the risks associated with pregnancy and childbirth.
Beyond maternity services, the facility also operates an Infant Welfare Clinic where babies receive routine immunisation, growth monitoring, nutrition counselling and health education.
The Officer-in-Charge of the facility, Matron Oladehinde Adeyemo, disclosed that attendance at the clinic continues to increase.
“Most times, we have nothing less than 85 mothers who bring their babies,” she said.
Adeyemo explained that health workers also educate mothers on infant nutrition and appropriate feeding practices.
“We talk about exclusive breastfeeding, nutrition and how to care for babies above six months,” she added.
The facility has equally intensified family planning services by educating women on available contraceptive options and their benefits.
According to Adeyemo, community awareness has improved considerably, resulting in greater acceptance of family planning.
“Their knowledge is high now. Yesterday alone, about 10 women accepted family planning services,” she said.
Adifase PHC also provides safe circumcision services for newborn boys under sterile conditions, offering families a safer alternative to traditional practices while ensuring proper follow-up care after the procedure.
Despite the improvements in healthcare delivery, the facility continues to grapple with inadequate infrastructure and operational constraints.
Adeyemo revealed that the health centre depends largely on a generator because it lacks a solar power system, making fuel costs a major challenge.
“We depend on a generator. It’s not every time we have money for fuel,” she said.
She further disclosed that the facility has struggled with an unreliable water supply after repeated failures of its borehole, forcing management to purchase water from vendors for sanitation and other essential activities.
The shortage of cleaners, seating facilities and support staff has also placed additional pressure on health workers, particularly during busy clinic days.
Responding to these concerns, the Executive Secretary of the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Muideen Olatunji, said the state government has continued to prioritise investments in primary healthcare under Governor Seyi Makinde’s administration.
According to him, the government is implementing a ward health system aimed at ensuring that each of the state’s 351 political wards has at least one fully functional primary healthcare facility.
“Oyo State has over 750 PHC facilities, with ongoing efforts to renovate and standardise them into flagship centres,” he said.
Dr. Olatunji also disclosed that about 4,000 health workers have been recruited to strengthen service delivery, while essential medicines are being supplied through the Drug Revolving Scheme to ensure sustainability.
Although challenges remain, Adifase Primary Health Care Centre continues to play a critical role in improving access to quality healthcare, reducing maternal and child mortality, and bringing essential health services closer to residents of the community.
