The Chief Medical Director, Kogi Hospitals Management Board, Ayo Olayemi, says renovation of Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across the state is improving healthcare delivery and patient safety.
Mr Olayemi said this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Lokoja, to commemorate World Patient Safety Day, marked annually on 17 September.
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He said Governor Ahmed Ododo had renovated three PHCs in each of the state’s 21 Local Government Areas, bringing the total number of renovated facilities to 63.
Mr Olayemi said the government had also constructed seven additional PHCs in locations with large populations that previously relied on a single facility for primary healthcare services.
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He said the interventions were aimed at improving access to quality healthcare and creating safer environments for patients seeking medical attention across the state.
“The primary healthcare system in the state is being strengthened,” he said, adding that functional facilities could improve timely diagnosis, treatment and follow-up care for patients.
Mr Olayemi, however, identified human resources as a major challenge in the health sector, but expressed optimism that the situation would improve with continued government intervention.
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“Human resources is a challenge,” he said, expressing confidence that the situation would change soon as measures were being implemented to address the shortage.
The chief medical director emphasised the importance of patients understanding their rights and speaking up whenever they were uncertain about treatment or suspected an error during healthcare delivery.
“As a patient, you have a right,” he said, urging patients to ask questions about their diagnosis, prescribed medicines, possible side effects and available treatment options.
He said medical errors could occur at different stages of healthcare delivery, including diagnosis, laboratory investigations, prescribing, dispensing and treatment, requiring vigilance from healthcare providers and patients.
Mr Olayemi cited medication errors as an example, noting that patients should seek clarification whenever the medicines or dosages supplied differed from what doctors had prescribed.
He said healthcare facilities in the state had functional complaint systems through which patients could report suspected errors, concerns and other issues encountered while receiving healthcare services.
He encouraged patients to lodge complaints through the Servicom system or approach the chief medical director of facilities where they were receiving care for necessary intervention.
According to him, complaints should not merely be received but reviewed and used to identify weaknesses, address gaps and improve healthcare services across facilities.
The World Patient Safety Day, established by the World Health Assembly in 2019, is observed annually to raise awareness and promote action on patient safety globally.
The 2026 theme is “Safe care for non-communicable diseases,” with the slogan “Safe care for life!”, focusing attention on safer treatment for people living with chronic conditions.
READ ALSO: 97% of PHCs in 16 states fail national staffing standards – Report
The World Health Organisation says the 2026 campaign focuses on preventing avoidable harm among people living with non-communicable diseases through safer and more responsive healthcare practices.
Mr Olayemi said that strengthening primary healthcare, improving infrastructure, and addressing human resource gaps were important steps towards ensuring safer healthcare services for patients across Kogi.
He expressed optimism that continued government commitment and the dedication of healthcare workers would improve healthcare delivery and change the current narrative across the state.
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