Utilization of Healthcare Services among Nomadic Fulani in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja.

This paper assessed the barriers to accessing healthcare services among nomadic Fulani in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT). Attempts have been made on the quality of service and health facilities in sedentary communities of the Federal Capital Territory (FCT), but accessibility remains a challenge to the nomadic community due to their primary occupation of open grazing and continuous migration. This has increased the setbacks in government's efforts of achieving health for all citizens and full coverage of periodic immunization programmes. Descriptive survey was adopted using secondary data and the Health Care Access Barrier Model is used to analyse barriers to the use of healthcare services by the nomadic Fulani in the FCT It was revealed that there are no health facilities mobile or permanent purposely established along the migratory routes and stopping points of the herders. This paper recommends the establishment of permanent health facilities along the herders' migratory routes that will cater for their primary' health needs; a health insurance or drug revolving fund scheme to replace cash for service; increased a wareness campaigns trough mass media on the need to participate fully in periodic immunization/vaccination programmes and patronizing the existing healthcare facilities. The existing primary health : care centres in sedentary communities of the territory should be revived and made effective to earn confidence of people on their efficiency thereby improving patronage and utilization by both sedentary population and the nomads.