The Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF) has said a well-functioning primary health care (PHC) system across the country is key to addressing most of Nigeria’s health challenges.
The nongovernmental organisation commended the country, particularly state governors’ efforts to improve health outcomes through increased focus on building a stronger and more resilient PHC system in the states.
The Interim Director of BMGF’s Nigeria Country Office, Uche Amaonwu, stated this on December 12 at the PHC Leadership Challenge Awards Ceremony 2024 at the Aso Villa, Abuja.
The PHC Leadership Challenge, launched in 2022, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare under the PHC Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy.
Organised by the Federal Government in collaboration with partners such as the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the initiative evaluates states’ performance across six key areas including governance, financing, service delivery, use of evidence, sustainability and outcomes.
Amaonwu said: “First, I would like to thank Your Excellencies here gathered, particularly the State Governors, for your efforts to improve health outcomes for Nigeria through your increased focus on building a stronger and more resilient primary health care system in your states.
“While this has been a challenging year, there is ample reason to celebrate the progress we have made. And a lot of this progress is really because of the policy and focus direction that many of you at the Federal, as well as the State level, have put to improve the lives of Nigerians through the Primary Health Care (PHC) System.
“Exactly one year ago, many of your Excellencies came together to reiterate your personal commitment to universal health coverage by signing the Health Sector Renewal Compact, which was put together by H.E. Coordinating Minister for Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, as an instrument for helping reduce program fragmentation and maximizing the efficient use of resources to improve health outcomes for Nigeria.
“It gives me great pleasure to come back here a year later to celebrate the principles of what you signed in that compact by recognising some progress that have been made.”
Expressing the BMGF’s delight at its partnership on the Leadership Challenge, he affirmed its belief that “the bulk of the health challenges that Nigeria faces can be addressed through well-functioning PHCs that are able to reach most of the people who need help in an equitable fashion.”
Amaonwu added: “That is why we are proud to support the design of this award to put grant funding in place for the winning states to pursue catalytic PHC interventions.
“Whether it’s something as simple as developing that starts with identifying where the poorest health outcomes in your states exist and working through optimizing your health workforce, or the supplies that are used to treat people or to put a system in place to track how you are doing to measure your performance over time.
“It depends largely on the priorities in your states. But we encourage you to use the funds to drive meaningful interventions that are catalytic and can help to move things.”
Winning States Share Millions Of Dollars
Anambra State was the top winner at the event carting home $1.2 million in prize money comprising $700,000 for best overall performance and an additional $500,000 for being the best-performing state in the South-East zone.
Other zonal winners who each received $500,000 included Kwara (North-Central), Kaduna (North-West), Rivers (South-South), Osun (South-West) and Yobe (North-East).
First runners-up in each zone, such as Lagos, Delta, and Abia, were awarded $400,000.
Task Before Nigerian Leaders
Amaonwu tasked the governors and other administrators not to relent in their efforts.
He said: “Now, one crucial message that I like to convey on behalf of the Foundation is that the actions and inactions you take concerning Primary Health Care systems will really determine whether they become truly functional or whether they become unable to meet the needs of ordinary Nigerians. While we celebrate the successes today, I would like each of us to see that there is actually an opportunity to continue to do better towards these goals.
“My sincere appreciation and that of the Foundation also goes to all the health workers, nationwide in Nigeria; those are the people at the forefront to drive all of these that we are celebrating today. Particularly those who have decided to remain in Nigeria and diligently continue to work to support the healthcare system. Your dedication is highly valued and we thank you.”
What Is The PHC Leadership Challenge?
The PHC Leadership Challenge is a collaborative initiative designed to incentivize and recognize exceptional leadership in the delivery of primary health care (PHC) services across Nigeria. Implemented by the Nigeria Governors’ Forum (NGF) in partnership with the UNICEF, and NPHCDA, and supported by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the challenge encourages states to enhance PHC systems, ensuring equitable access to essential health services for all Nigerians.
This is to fast-track the implementation of the Seattle Declaration, a commitment all state governors signed up to at the National Economic Council meeting of November 2019. The Seattle Declaration is a commitment to elevate primary healthcare on the political agenda, promote accountability, and drive measurable improvements in health outcomes. By fostering competition and collaboration among States, the Challenge creates a platform for innovation and sustained commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
This initiative aims to elevate PHC on the political agenda, promote accountability, and drive measurable improvements in health outcomes. By fostering competition and collaboration among states, the challenge creates a platform for innovation and sustained commitment to improving healthcare delivery.
Its objectives also include accelerating the implementation of the Seattle Declaration, strengthening political commitment to improving PHC outcomes, fostering accountability and improved performance across all 36 states and the FCT and tracking state governors’ implementation of their commitments in the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative Compact.
