ORODATA Science, a civic-tech organisation, and Africa Data Hub have announced the second phase of their data collection initiative targeting Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres.
The organisations said in a statement on Monday, December 2, that the project, which aims to assess the state of PHCs and improve healthcare access, will cover 10 additional states.
The states include Ogun, Edo, Kwara, Bayelsa, Ebonyi, Abia, Kano, Kaduna, Gombe, and the Federal Capital Territory.
According to the statement, this expansion will bring the total number of surveyed healthcare centres to over 1,500, following earlier data collection efforts in Anambra, Benue, Cross River, Osun, Sokoto, and Taraba states.
Speaking on the project, the programme officer at Orodata Science, Uche Oti, described healthcare as a fundamental human right, adding that the initiative would empower policymakers with data-driven insights to strengthen Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The new phase would evaluate service quality, identify gaps in resources and infrastructure, and provide policymakers with critical insights to enhance Nigeria’s healthcare delivery system.
“This expanded project aims to: evaluate the availability and quality of primary healthcare centres (PHCs) services, assess the condition of facilities and infrastructure, identify resource constraints and gaps in service delivery, and provide essential insights for policymakers and healthcare stakeholders to improve healthcare services.”
The data will be made available to the public via CheckMyPHC.org, a platform designed to provide real-time information on the state of PHCs across the country.
“The data collected will drive the development of comprehensive reports, interactive visualisations, and support advocacy initiatives aimed at strengthening health systems. Additionally, this information will be made publicly available through CheckMyPHC.org, a newly launched platform designed to empower Nigerians with real-time data on the status of PHCs in their communities,” the statement added.
Meanwhile, Orodata Science is calling for volunteers from the 10 newly added states to join its data collection network.
It noted that interested applicants, who will receive expert training and hands-on field experience, are encouraged to apply.
Interested volunteers can apply here.
The deadline for application is December 13, 2024.
Usman Mustapha is a solution journalist with International Centre for Investigative Reporting. You can easily reach him via: umustapha@icirnigeria.com. He tweets @UsmanMustapha_M