In a significant development, the Nigerian government said it has revitalized more than 500 Rural Health Centres (VHCs) across the country, with plans to renovate 3,000 more next year.
This was revealed by the Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Muyi Aina, at a stakeholders meeting organised by the Nigeria Universal Health Care Forum in collaboration with Options Consultancy Services, a global body of health experts.
Mr. Aina said that HCV revitalization is a key component of President Tinubu’s Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which he noted aims to make basic healthcare services accessible to all Nigerians.
She added that the measure has already led to a 15 percent increase in immunization rates and a significant increase in antenatal care services.
Harmonization
Options Consultancy Services Regional Director Ufuoma Omo-Obi stressed the importance of bringing together stakeholders across the health ecosystem to achieve universal health coverage.
She highlighted the need for harmonization, citing the success of state-led accountability mechanisms and the Evidence for Action (E4A) MAMAYE programme in Lagos, which used community-based evidence to drive interventions and ensure essential commodities reach primary health care facilities.
Mr. Omo-Obi highlighted the importance of inclusive programming, recognizing that everyone, regardless of background or language, has a role to play in achieving better health outcomes.
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He further encouraged stakeholders to work together, share their ideas and use tools to advance universal health coverage, ultimately saving lives and improving human well-being.
Also speaking at the meeting, DGI Consult Managing Partner Gafar Alawode said it was time to move from talks to actions that would yield tangible results.
Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative
In 2023, the Nigerian government launched the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) as part of its efforts to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by 2030.
This was revealed by the Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate.
“The quest for universal health coverage and better health for all Nigerians requires a multi-sectoral and whole-of-government approach,” the minister had said at the time.
Mr. Pate explained that the NHSRII has been put in place to drive Nigeria’s journey towards universal health coverage, with the aim of guiding the renewal of the country’s health system as part of the government’s broader health agenda. The goal, he said, is to move towards universal health coverage, ensuring that all Nigerians, regardless of their location, economic status or employment, can access essential services for a healthy life without financial strain.
The initiative, Mr. Pate noted, directly addresses poor health outcomes for the population, exacerbated by highly inequitable access to health.
He stressed that the initiative would leverage the Basic Health Care Delivery Fund (BHCPF) in collaboration with state governments and development partners on a sector-wide transformation programme that would aim to improve health outcomes. This included plans to train more human resources in the health field and make available at least 17,000 operational primary health care centres.
National Census Bureau Association (NPHCDA)
NPHCDA is a parastatal organisation of the Federal Ministry of Health of Nigeria, established in 1992. It was formed to build on Nigeria's successes in primary health care from 1986 to 1992, which earned the country a top ranking in the world.
The agency provides technical and programmatic support to states, local governments and other stakeholders to improve primary health care services in Nigeria, with a vision of improving the health and quality of life of Nigerians, especially in developing communities, through an innovative approach to primary health care development.