Primary Healthcare System and reduction of Infant/childhood mortality in Benue State Nigeria

Abstract
Infant and childhood mortality are good indicators of social development of a nation. The developed nations of the world are having infant and childhood mortality of below 5/1000 and 10/1000 live births respectively. From the National Demographic and Health Survey of 2008 Nigeria has an infant mortality rate of 75/1000 and childhood mortality of 88/1000 live births. These are very high by world standard. The Federal government of Nigeria through the Population policy and also the Health policy targeted at reducing the infant mortality rate to 35/1000 and childhood mortality rate to 45/1000 and maternal mortality to 125/100000 births. If the overall objective of providing effective, efficient, quality, accessible and affordable healthcare services that will improve the health status of Nigerians and achieve health related Millennium Development Goals is to be met, then there is the need for proper re-examination and overhauling of the functioning and operations of the Primary Healthcare system. The paper is of the view that IMR and CMR can be drastically reduced if the philosophy and objectives of PHC system are adhered to, most especially in our rural communities. Social Action Model is adopted as theoretical frame while the method consists of questionnaire, FGD and Key Informant interview..