PSHAN, WHO to establish global-standard primary healthcare centres across Nigeria

L-R: Anne Adah-Ogoh, director, Policy, PSHAN; Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, founder, WARIF; Tinuola Akingbolagbe, MD/CEO, PSHAN, Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, chairman, Access Holdings and Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Nigeria Representative and Head of Mission, and Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, executive vice-chairman, Aig-Imoukhede Foundation at the PSHAN X WHO project collaboration signing ceremony in Lagos.

The Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria (PSHAN), in collaboration with the World Health Organisation (WHO), celebrated the official signing of the partnership agreement for the “Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP)” in a signing ceremony held in Victoria Island, Lagos. The collaboration signifies a crucial milestone in the collective effort to accelerate access to quality primary healthcare delivery for improved health outcomes in Nigeria, laying the foundation for Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and health security.

The ADHFP initiative is set to establish at least one global-standard Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas, aligning with the guidelines of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme of the Federal Ministry of Health.

In her welcome address, Tinuola Akinbolagbe, MD/CEO of PSHAN, emphasised the importance of strategic collaboration with WHO in uniting diverse stakeholders to achieve Universal Health Coverage and improve health outcomes nationwide.

“This strategic partnership is significant and aligns with the sector-wide approach of the Federal Ministry of Health to healthcare delivery. By bringing together the diverse expertise, resources, and perspectives of the public and private sectors, academia, civil society, and international agencies, we lay the foundation for realising UHC. With this partnership, we aim to leverage the strengths and resources of both partners to address pressing health challenges and improve health outcomes across the country,” she stated.

She also added, “At the core of our partnership lies the visionary Adopt-A-Healthcare Facility Programme (ADHFP), a PSHAN flagship initiative with an innovative financing mechanism, aimed at establishing globally standardised Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas with the support of our Adopters and Strategic Partners. This initiative embodies our collective resolve to bridge the gap between healthcare demand and supply, empower local communities, rebuild trust in our healthcare system and catalyse systemic change from the grassroots up.”

Reiterating the importance of the collaboration, Walter Kazadi Mulombo, WHO Nigeria Representative and Head of Mission, added, “Our partnership with PSHAN marks a significant agreement to provide technical support and mobilize resources for implementing targeted interventions in primary care programmes and services, facilitated by private-sector involvement. Together, we will establish global-standard primary healthcare centres as models for others to follow. We will collaborate to identify priority areas for intervention, assess healthcare facilities in need of support, implement targeted interventions, track achievements, and document best practices for ongoing learning and scalability. This comprehensive approach ensures that our efforts complement government initiatives and drive significant improvements in health outcomes across Nigeria.”

It would be recalled that on April 4, 2024, PSHAN and WHO held a signing-off ceremony at Transcorp Hilton, Abuja, which was witnessed by Muhammed Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, and Muyi Aina, executive director, National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA), amongst other esteemed government officials, ministry representatives, and development agencies. The Lagos event brought together private sector stakeholders to witness the ceremony and show their support for both organizations.

Special guests who attended the signing ceremony include; Aigboje Aig-Imoukhuede, chairman, Access Holdings and chairman, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation; Ofovwe Aig-Imoukhuede, executive vice-chairman, Aig-Imoukhuede Foundation; Weert Borner, Consulate General of the Federal Republic of Germany Lagos; Odunayo Sanya, executive director, MTN Foundation; Kemi Dasilva-Ibru, founder, Women at Risk International Foundation (WARIF); Aisha Haruna, representing Kelechi Ohiri, director general, National Health Insurance Authority, among others.

As the country grapples with various health challenges, including high out-of-pocket payments, infectious diseases, maternal and child health issues, and non-communicable diseases, this partnership holds great promise in addressing complex healthcare challenges while using innovative approaches to drive positive change towards improved health outcomes for generations to come.