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Global Health Economics and
Sustainability
Community participation in primary health care

in reporting successes. For example, claims of increased Author contributions
drug availability were not independently verified against
PHC inventories. In addition, the study’s cross-sectional This is a single-authored article.
design offers a snapshot of the current situation but cannot Ethics approval and consent to participate
track the long-term sustainability of WDC initiatives.
Furthermore, uneven representation poses another Ethical approval was granted by the Health Research
limitation, as some remote wards with fewer resources Review Committee of the Kebbi State Health Ministry to
may not have been adequately represented, potentially conduct the study (registration number: 105:16/2020),
skewing findings toward more successful WDCs. Despite and the study has adhered to the principle outlined in the
these limitations, the study underscores the contributions Declaration of Helsinki. In addition, all participants gave
of WDCs and community structures to primary health their informed consent to participate in the study.
care in Kebbi State and serves as a foundation for future Consent for publication
research aimed at enhancing community-driven healthcare
interventions and improving outcomes in resource-limited Verbal consent was obtained from the participants to share
settings. their data.
5. Conclusion Availability of data

The study has brought to light the status and functionality Data are available from the corresponding author upon
of WDCs and the level of their engagement with primary reasonable request.
health facilities in Kebbi State, Nigeria. The study also References
revealed key outcomes from the interaction between
WDCs and PHCs, aimed at improving access to primary Abosede, O., Campbell, P.C., Olufunlayo, T., & Sholeye, O.O.
healthcare services in local communities. The existence (2012). Establishing a sustainable ward health system in
of other community-level structures such as volunteer Nigeria: Are key implementers well informed? Journal of
corps, TBAs, and ETS underscores the critical roles played Community Medicine and Health Education, 2:164.
by communities in contributing to primary healthcare https://doi.org/10.4172/2161-0711.1000164
delivery and the effective functioning of primary healthcare Abosede, O.A., & Sholeye, O.F. (2014). Strengthening the
services. The findings suggest that most WDCs in Kebbi foundation for sustainable primary health care services in
State are actively engaged in PHC activities, with almost Nigeria. Primary Health Care: Open Access, 4(3):167.
all conducting regular meetings and using PHC service https://doi.org/10.4172/2167-1079.1000167
data for decision-making. The involvement of WDCs in
PHC operations has led to accountability mechanisms, Ata, A. (2004). Declaration of Alma-ata International conference
including establishing community-led DRF schemes and on primary health care, Alma-Ata, USSR, 6-12 September
1978. Development, 47:159-161.
public displays of PHC services. The study also found that
TBAs and ETS are crucial community structures for PHC https://doi.org/10.1057/palgrave.development.1100047
services. Overall, the study suggests that the involvement Baghirov, R., Ah-Ching, J., & Bollars, C. (2019). Achieving UHC
of WDCs and community structures can significantly in Samoa through revitalizing PHC and reinvigorating the
improve PHC services in resource-limited settings. role of village women groups. Health Systems and Reform,
5(1):78-82.
Acknowledgments https://doi.org/10.1080/23288604.2018.1539062
The author wishes to thank the Department of Planning, Cyril, S., Smith, B.J., Possamai-Inesedy, A., & Renzaho, A.M.N.
Research, and Statistics of the Kebbi State Ministry of (2015). Exploring the role of community engagement
Health for granting ethical approval. The author also in improving the health of disadvantaged populations:
extends gratitude to the data collectors and participants for A systematic review. Global Health Action, 8(1):29842.
their willingness to participate in the study for free. https://doi.org/10.3402/gha.v8.29842

Funding Durey, A., McEvoy, S., Swift-Otero, V., Taylor, K.,
Katzenellenbogen, J., & Bessarab, D. (2016). Improving
None. healthcare for Aboriginal Australians through effective
engagement between community and health services. BMC
Conflict of interest Health Services Research, 16(1):224.
The author declares that there are no competing interests. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-016-1497-0

Volume 3 Issue 2 (2025) 122 https://doi.org/10.36922/ghes.4945