Anambra State has emerged as the best-performing state in the 2024 Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge Awards, held in Abuja.
The state was awarded a total of $1.2 million for its exceptional efforts in strengthening primary healthcare systems. Anambra secured $700,000 as the overall winner, along with an additional $500,000 for being the South-East zonal champion.
Other states that won zonal awards, each receiving $500,000, include Kwara (North Central), Kaduna (North West), Rivers (South-South), Osun (South-West), and Yobe (North-East).
The awards were part of a challenge launched in 2022 by the Federal Government, Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), and partners like the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and UNICEF.
The initiative evaluates states on their governance, financing, service delivery, and sustainability of healthcare services. Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Aliyu Modibbo Umar, praised the initiative for advancing healthcare in Nigeria and called for continued efforts toward achieving universal health coverage.
The event saw participation from key leaders including NGF Chairman AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, who highlighted the role of the Seattle Declaration in driving reforms in primary healthcare, and Health Minister Ali Pate, who shared that ₦46 billion had been invested in 8,000 health facilities, leading to a 16.7% reduction in under-five mortality rates and boosting public confidence in the system. However, challenges such as insufficient health expenditure and immunization gaps remain pressing issues.
Uche Amaonwu of the Gates Foundation lauded the governors’ leadership, particularly in light of fiscal challenges, while UNICEF’s Cristian Munduate emphasized the right to healthcare for all Nigerians.
Muyi Aina, CEO of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), noted that the challenge has successfully spurred states to strengthen their primary healthcare systems.
The awards come at a time when Nigeria’s primary healthcare infrastructure remains underdeveloped, with only 20% of the nation’s 30,000 PHC facilities fully operational.
To address this, the Federal Government has signed memoranda of cooperation with various partners, including the Nigerian Sovereign Investment Authority, to rebuild a more effective PHC system.
Additionally, the government is planning to build 10,000 new PHC centers nationwide, ensuring that each ward has access to healthcare.
The Federal Government is also set to receive a $500 million loan from the World Bank as part of the Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE) project, which aims to improve both education and healthcare services in the country.
In closing, the event concluded with a call for all stakeholders to sustain efforts and continue working towards providing equitable healthcare for all Nigerians.
