Key Points

• Nigeria’s revamped health system now attracts 80 million contacts yearly.

• Some states show significant improvements in healthcare services.

• Federal and state governments work together for healthcare transformation.

The Federal Government’s ongoing healthcare reforms have significantly impacted Nigeria’s primary health care (PHC) system.

According to Prof. Muhammad Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the reforms are now attracting approximately 80 million contacts annually.

This marks a substantial improvement in healthcare delivery, with around 20 million contacts occurring every quarter.

Despite facing numerous challenges, some states have reported notable progress, particularly in skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, and data reporting.

Pate lauded state governments for their efforts, noting that the increased data reporting was one of the most significant steps in improving Nigeria’s healthcare system.

Progress amidst challenges

While acknowledging the challenges that still remain, including years of underinvestment in the healthcare sector, Pate expressed optimism.

He highlighted the ongoing collaboration between the federal government, state governments, local authorities, and civil society organizations.

“This is a continuous process,” Pate said. “It will take time, but we are already seeing early signs of improvement.”

He emphasized that the current administration’s deliberate investments have played a key role in these gains.

With the support of state governments, Nigeria is moving towards a more sustainable and efficient healthcare system, especially at the PHC level.

Fostering better healthcare through performance reviews

At the Sector-Wide Approach State Strategic Engagement with North Central and South Western States Stakeholders, Dr. Muntaqa Umar Sadiq, the National Coordinator of the Sector-Wide Coordination Office, discussed how performance reviews are guiding states towards improved healthcare outcomes.

These quarterly dialogues focus on indicators like skilled birth attendance, routine immunization, and maternal and child health interventions.

States now have a clearer understanding of the bottlenecks affecting their performance and are actively working to overcome these issues.

Through these performance dialogues, Nigeria aims to improve its healthcare system and ensure that services are accessible and functional for every Nigerian.