About Our Work In Funtua, Katsina State
Healthcare for rural communities in Katsina State
Access to healthcare for rural communities in Nigeria has drastically deteriorated in the last 10 years. There is an ever-broadening gap between urban and rural communities in Nigeria. Due to inadequate health facilities and insufficient health personnel working in rural communities, communities are not warned of diseases of public health importance, which leads to many preventable deaths.
The utilization of healthcare services is related to availability, cost of services and quality alongside social-economic factors. In rural communities, health services are under-utilized because of gaps in access to services. The Nigerian health system and especially primary healthcare is grossly under-funded and continues to keep Nigeria at the bottom of world health indices and accounting for 14% of the world’s maternal deaths, most of these deaths occur in rural communities.
ILERA is improving access to quality primary healthcare and health education to the rural communities of Katsina State. We want to ensure health outcomes improve for those living in rural communities.
Our health services support women and girls and other marginalized groups living in Katsina rural communities. Our team works within communities to raise awareness of reproductive health problems, HIV & STIs, reduce new infections, reduce late diagnoses, improve access to regular testing and challenge stigma and prejudice. Our activities include training, workshops, information sessions, one-to-one information and advice, group talks for women and girls on family planning, unintended pregancies and the health implications of early marriage.
We also provide health education on cancers and cancer screening: breast, cervical, ovarian and prostate. We encourage uptake of TB screening and provide support to individuals with TB.