Informal Microfinance and Primary Health care in Ekiti LGA, Kwara state, Nigeria.
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Date
2011
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Volume Title
Publisher
Brown Walker Press
Abstract
Microfinance provides a promising platform to expand health access and coverage for rural poor that are mostly farmers and urban poor who are in the informal sector of the economy through organized groups. Health in rural area is accessed through primary health and community care which is the most visible and commonly used part of the health system. Using a multi regression analysis, this study examines the impact of informal microfinance on primary healthcare. The study shows that there is positive relationship between informal microfinance and primary healthcare. However, poor funding that manifest in inadequate number of health staff with skills appropriate to the health priorities of rural areas; poor maintenance of equipment; inadequate drugs, etc coupled with diminishing confidence in public sector health facilities; rapid population growth, political instability; non-existence rural workforce policies and strategies etc, as well as the spartan living conditions in rural areas made health care services inaccessible to the rural people. The study thus recommend a regular higher savings and prompt repayment of loan in order to sustain the activities of informal microfinance, so that clients can have more access to fund to meet their health needs. Government should also complement the activities of the informal microfinance by ensuring that drugs are available and cheap in the rural areas of Ekiti. Besides, government should recruit health staff with skills that are appropriate to the health priorities of rural areas, maintain poor equipments, and bring health facilities closer to the rural areas. This will reduce the money spent by the rural dwellers on travelling to receive healthcare.
Description
Keywords
Microfinance, Primary Healthcare.