DISEASE PATTERNS IDENTIFIED THROUGH COMMUNITY HEALTH OUTREACH PROGRAMMES AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS ON HEALTH FINANCING IN ABUJA, NIGERIA

Community-based health outreach programmes can improve access to preventive healthcare and facilitate early identification of communicable and non-communicable diseases, particularly among populations with barriers to routine healthcare services. This study assessed disease patterns identified through community health outreach programmes and examined their implications for health financing in selected Police Health Maintenance Organization (Police HMO) service locations in Abuja, Nigeria. A descriptive cross-sectional approach was adopted for medical outreach programmes conducted between April and June 2026 at Garki Police Headquarters, MD Abubakar Police Barracks, Dei-Dei, and Police Barracks, Kuje. Participants voluntarily attending the outreach were screened for malaria, elevated random blood glucose, hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg), and HIV, alongside clinical consultation and health education. A total of 984 participants were screened, comprising 204 (20.7%) from Garki, 374 (38.0%) from Dei-Dei, and 406 (41.3%) from Kuje. Malaria was detected in 181 participants (18.39%), elevated random blood glucose was identified in 234 (23.78%), HBsAg was reactive in 18 (1.83%), and HIV was reactive in 3 (0.30%). The findings indicate a substantial need for sustained investment in preventive screening, early diagnosis, referral, health education, malaria control, hepatitis B vaccination, and follow-up care.