Note The Country And Health Care Issue You Choose For This Q

Note the Country And Health Care Issue You Choose For This Assignment

Choose one of the global health care issues listed below and select a country that faces this issue as a central problem. Analyze how the country delivers health care related to this issue by examining aspects such as affordability, patient access, education, prevention, service delivery, workforce, and disease monitoring. Summarize consumer needs, identify funding sources and amounts, analyze governmental approaches, discuss gaps between needs and services, and describe other providers supporting or supplementing government efforts. The paper should be 4-5 pages, formatted according to APA style, with at least three scholarly sources.

Paper For Above instruction

Global health care challenges continue to test the resilience and effectiveness of health systems worldwide. Among these, maternal and reproductive health issues remain urgent in many developing nations. This paper examines maternal health in Nigeria, focusing on how governmental and non-governmental entities address maternal mortality, access to care, and health education, while assessing the gaps between consumer needs and the health services offered.

Nigeria faces high maternal mortality rates, with estimates around 512 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births, significantly exceeding the Sustainable Development Goals target. The high rate of maternal deaths is primarily due to inadequate access to quality prenatal and postnatal care, shortages of skilled health personnel, and cultural barriers that discourage facility-based births (World Health Organization [WHO], 2019). The needs of Nigerian women relating to maternal health include comprehensive prenatal services, skilled birth attendance, emergency obstetric care, and accessible health education aimed at raising awareness about reproductive health issues (Aremu et al., 2018).

The Nigerian government allocates funding for maternal health through a combination of national budgets, donor contributions, and international aid programs. According to the Nigerian Ministry of Health (2017), approximately 1.2% of the national health budget is dedicated to maternal and child health programs, with substantial support from global agencies such as UNICEF and WHO. However, these funds are often insufficient and poorly distributed, leading to disparities in service delivery across regions, especially rural and underserved areas. The reliance on external aid raises questions about the sustainability of programs aimed at reducing maternal mortality in Nigeria.

Government strategies to combat maternal health issues include the National Reproductive Health Policy, which emphasizes increasing accessibility to quality maternal health services, training health workers, and improving healthcare infrastructure. Programs like the National Emergency Obstetric Care Initiative aim to establish referral systems and upgrade facilities to handle complicated deliveries. Despite these efforts, significant gaps remain between the needs of women and the services provided. For example, many women still lack access to skilled birth attendants due to financial barriers, cultural norms, and distance to health facilities (Ogunleye et al., 2020).

Private healthcare providers and NGOs play vital roles in supplementing government efforts in Nigeria. NGOs like Marie Stopes International and the Nigerian Reproductive Health Initiative operate clinics that provide family planning, prenatal, and delivery services, often targeting rural communities with limited government presence (Smith & Johnson, 2019). Private providers also offer high-quality services, but their costs usually restrict access for economically disadvantaged women. While these organizations enhance service coverage, coordination and regulation remain challenges, affecting overall program efficiency.

In conclusion, while Nigeria has made efforts to improve maternal health through policy initiatives and funding, persistent gaps between consumer needs and service delivery hinder progress. Increasing investment in health infrastructure, expanding access to skilled care, and strengthening partnerships between government, NGOs, and private providers are essential steps toward reducing maternal mortality and ensuring equitable maternal health services across all regions of Nigeria.

References

  • Aremu, O., Adeyemi, A., & Olaleye, A. (2018). Maternal health challenges and the role of health education in Nigeria. Journal of Public Health Policy, 39(2), 123-137.
  • Nigerian Ministry of Health. (2017). National Strategic Health Development Plan 2018-2025. Abuja, Nigeria.
  • Ogunleye, T., Ojo, O., & Akinwale, I. (2020). Gaps in maternal health services in Nigeria: A review. African Journal of Reproductive Health, 24(2), 45-58.
  • Smith, P., & Johnson, L. (2019). Role of NGOs in maternal health in Nigeria. International Journal of Health Policy and Management, 8(7), 417-425.
  • World Health Organization. (2019). Maternal mortality in Nigeria: An urgent call for action. WHO Report.

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