ASSESSMENT OF FACILITY MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN SELECTED PUBLIC HEALTH CARE FACILITIES IN NIGER STATE

Abstract

Facility Management (FM) is still in its infancy but growing due to the country’s rising profile as one of the fastest growing entities in the emerging market economies. However Public Healthcare Facilities in Nigeria are generally faced with many challenges including poor maintenance culture and therefore there is a need for the professionalization of Facility Management Practices. It is on this basis that the present study assesses the facility management practices in selected Public health care facilities in Niger State. The study was basically on soft facility management which consist of cleaning, recycling, security, pest control, handyman services, grounds maintenance, waste disposal and internal plants. A mixed methods design was adopted with the administration of questionnaires and interview to the health workers, works and maintenance officers (service providers) as well as end-users and visitors in 9 Local Government Area of Zone ‘B’, geographical zone of Niger State. A total of four hundred and fifty (450) questionnaires were administered (50 questionnaires to each Local Government under Zone B Niger, State, Nigeria) and interview were conducted with (9) incharge medical officers and (9) maintenance officers across the zone. Out of which three hundred and fifty – two (352) questionnaire are retrieved and found valid and fit for analysis as well as resourceful to achieved the objectives of the study. The research data were analyse manually in tabular form using descriptive statistical procedures, particularly frequency distributions and simple cross-tabulations. The outcome of the findings revealed that Outsourcing Facility Management and In-House (FM) are the two major types of FM adopted in the public healthcare facilities. Also improved funding, manpower in the works unit, waste management, contract and contractor management, space management Training/re-training of staff and changing of old facilities are the indicators for effective FM practices. The findings also revealed that the level of implementation is adequate in both outsourcing and in-house (FM) practices in public healthcare facilities. The challenges facing the FM practices are unveiled to be corruption, insufficient funding, poor maintenance culture, problem of policy implementation, inadequate FM personnel skill level, low technical knowhow, age of the building. Finally measure recommended for improved FM practices are the adoption for effective are modernity, ease of usage, structural stability, accessibility to the facility. The researcher thereby recommended that strategic facility plan, benchmarking, building simulation/building forecasting, risk management in building facilities and building maintenance should be put in place by the government to encourage the uptake and adoption of FM practices in the healthcare facilities. Furthermore, there should be rigorous enlighten program on FM practice by government to improve healthcare standard and save lives.