Water Quality in Primary Healthcare Facilities (PHCFs) and its effects on universal health coverage (UHC)

Primary healthcare facilities are the first point of call in the health delivery system ladder especially in the rural areas. This study was carried out to assess the level of contamination of water in primary healthcare facilities in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. The study utilized an experimental study approach selecting five primary healthcare facilities for the study. Water samples were collected using standard conventional procedures. Laboratory analyses were done at Wiz-link Consults Ltd Bayelsa State using standardized laboratory methods. Results showed that physical and chemical parameters tested were in conformity with World Health Organization (WHO) permissible limit. Results further showed that all water samples had heterotrophic bacteria in them which ranged from 2±1x10 to 8.0±2x102 and only one (20%) was devoid of coliform bacteria. It was also discovered that there was fungal contamination in some of the water samples. The study therefore advocates for constant treatment and monitoring of water quality in primary healthcare facilities so as to prevent pollution that could lead to outbreak of water-borne diseases thereby compromising the achieving of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) come 2030.