FG Begins Nationwide Rehabilitation Services at Primary Health Centres

The Federal Government has launched the nationwide rollout of integrated rehabilitation services across Primary Health Care (PHC) centres to improve access to essential healthcare for millions of Nigerians.

The initiative, unveiled at the Doya Primary Health Care Centre in Bauchi State, will make services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, prosthetics and orthotics available at community health facilities.

Speaking at the launch, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said the programme is a key step toward strengthening primary healthcare and achieving Universal Health Coverage under the Tinubu administration's Renewed Hope Agenda.

He noted that the integration of rehabilitation services into PHCs will enable people living with disabilities, elderly citizens, trauma survivors, and patients with chronic illnesses to receive quality care closer to their homes.

Pate disclosed that Nigeria currently has about 34,000 Primary Health Care Centres but only 5,000 licensed physiotherapists, highlighting the urgent need to expand the rehabilitation workforce. He urged regulatory bodies to adopt innovative strategies to increase the number of qualified professionals while maintaining high standards.

The minister also announced plans to include rehabilitation services and assistive devices under the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) to reduce treatment costs for patients.

Registrar of the Medical Rehabilitation Therapists Board of Nigeria, Yusuf Ahmad, described the launch as a major milestone, noting that rehabilitation services had been largely limited to secondary and tertiary hospitals for decades.

The Foundation for Empowering Persons with Disabilities also donated rehabilitation equipment and pledged to sponsor the salary of a physiotherapist for one year at the Doya PHC.

The programme forms part of Nigeria's implementation of the World Health Organization's Rehabilitation 2030 Initiative, aimed at making rehabilitation services accessible through primary healthcare and improving health outcomes nationwide.

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