Objective: To determine the availability and distribution of resources for primary and secondary ENT health care services in Enugu South Local Government Area (LGA) of Enugu State.

Method: A survey of private and public (state and local Government administered) health care facilities in Enugu South LGA was done. The health map of Enugu South Local Government Area was studied to identify available health care facilities. A visit to each facility was done. A pre tested, observer-administered questionnaire was used to interview the administrative heads of all the health care facilities in the LGA.  The population of the Local Government Area was obtained from the Enugu office of the National Population Commission (NPC).¹

Result: The population of the area is 198,723 at the 2006 census.  A total of forty five health facilities were found in Enugu South Local Government Area.  Basic Primary Health Centres were 4(8.9%), private secondary health facilities were 40(91%) and only one private ENT centre (2.2%).

Resources for ENT health care services were available in only one private secondary level health facilities.  However no resources were found in primary health care facilities and other (40) private secondary facilities.

Conclusion: Resources available for ENT healthcare services in Enugu South LGA are grossly inadequate and unevenly distributed.  The possible reasons for this are due to scarcity of ENT surgeons/consultants audiologist, nurses (ENT)and resident doctors in Enugu South Local Government  Area.

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Chijioke C. Anekpo

Department of ORL, College of Medicine, Enugu State University of Science and Technology

Enugu Nigeria