AWARENESS AND GEOSPATIAL EXAMINATION OF HEALTHCARE FACILITIES IN OGUN STATE NIGERIA: NEED FOR HEALTH CARE DEVELOPMENT
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Spatial distribution inequity in health care facilities, including primary health care, has been recognized as a
wedge towards effective delivery of such services in many countries, including Nigeria. Healthcare facilities
are vehicles to attain an acceptable level of health that will enable everyone to lead a socially and
economically productive life. One of the core challenges facing the Nigerian health care system is poor
access to health facilities, worsened by poverty, poor road networks and transportation. The resultant
consequences are high morbidity and mortality in most parts of the country, leading to low economic
performance. Access serves as the bridge between availability and utilization. For Sustainable Development
Goal 3, people should have access to health facilities closer to their residence. The study employed
secondary data and geographic information system mapping in the investigation. The paper aimed to explore
the locational distribution of existing health facilities in Ogun State and make informed recommendations for
policy intervention in the study area. The study reveals that the distribution pattern of public healthcare
facilities in the State is not uniform either at tertiary, secondary, or primary levels. And this scenario negates
the essence of providing health care facilities within 5 kilometers distance envisaged by WHO and general
health status. Densely populated health facilities were seen in local governments with high populations,
industries and Local Government capitals. In contrast, others have fewer health care facilities, perhaps due
to their rural and remote nature. Thus, the government needs to ensure even distribution of health facilities
and motivated personnel, drugs, and deliverables in the study area to ensure optimal spatial efficiency.
Keywords
Q Science (General), QH301 Biology