Nigeria Expands Rehabilitation Services to Primary Health Care

The Federal Government of Nigeria has initiated a program to extend rehabilitation services directly to Primary Health Care (PHC) centres across the country, aiming to provide disability-inclusive care to all Nigerians. This initiative, which includes services such as physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech therapy, audiology, and prosthetics, was launched at the Doya Primary Health Care Centre in Bauchi State.

Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, represented by Dr. Baba Suleiman, stated that this integration is a key part of the health sector reforms under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. The reform seeks to address the lack of access to rehabilitation services for persons living with disabilities, older persons, trauma survivors, and those recovering from chronic illnesses.

Historically, such services have been limited to secondary and tertiary health facilities, leaving rural communities underserved. The initiative is supported by the development of the National Rehabilitation and Assistive Technology Strategic Plan 2027–2031, currently under review with stakeholders in Abuja.