The Lagos State Government has charged chairmen of the state’s 57 local governments and local council development areas (LCDAs) to improve funding and demonstrate stronger political commitment towards strengthening the primary health care (PHC) system.
The Special Adviser to Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, made the call on Monday during a joint leadership dialogue on PHCs in Lagos.
The event, themed “Strengthening the Primary Health Care System: A Joint Leadership Dialogue,” was convened by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board in collaboration with partners including Nigeria Health Watch, Engender Health, the World Bank, UNICEF, CCSI, ISMPH and CHAI.
Ogunyemi said the PHC system remained the foundation of health service delivery in Lagos and was central to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC), a critical pillar of the administration’s THEMES Plus Agenda.
She noted that strengthening PHCs was essential for improved health outcomes, social inclusion and human capital development.
“Distinguished chairmen, the effective functioning of the primary health care system is intrinsically linked to strong leadership, governance and coordination at the local government and LCDA levels, in line with the PHC Under One Roof policy framework.
“Your offices play a critical role in providing political leadership, ensuring adequate funding, strengthening oversight and fostering community ownership of PHC facilities within your jurisdictions,” she said.
Ogunyemi urged the council chairmen to support counterpart funding obligations, strengthen collaboration with the Primary Health Care Board and ensure accountability in the management of PHC resources and services.
She reaffirmed the state government’s commitment to revitalizing primary health care through sustained investments, improved governance structures and optimal utilization of available funding windows, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
According to her, priority areas such as routine immunization, maternal, newborn and child health services, disease surveillance and community mobilization require deliberate and coordinated action at the local government level to translate policies into measurable impact.
Ogunyemi also called on all stakeholders to collaborate across all levels of government to promote coordination, sustainability and shared ownership of PHC interventions in the state.
She expressed optimism that the dialogue would deepen mutual understanding, enhance intergovernmental collaboration and produce practical resolutions to strengthen PHC delivery in Lagos.
The Chairman of the Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Mr Musibau Lawal, said findings from the committee’s supervisory activities showed that more needed to be done to ensure PHC facilities were fully functional.
He listed key needs to include the provision of basic amenities, essential equipment, adequate staffing, security, water supply, electricity and a supportive working environment for health workers.
Lawal commended some local government chairmen for constructing new PHC facilities and renovating existing ones but stressed that infrastructure alone was not sufficient.
“A functional PHC facility is far more than a building. It requires good governance structures, consistent service delivery, adequate financing, strong leadership involvement, and full political and administrative support,” he said.
He urged council chairmen to provide stronger institutional backing to PHC services by empowering their Local Government Health Authorities (LGHAs) to effectively implement government health policies and reforms.
Also speaking, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, said the dialogue aimed to harmonize the positions of the state and local governments towards improving health care delivery.
Mustafa said the engagement would strengthen collaboration and help build a resilient, people-centred PHC system.
“When primary health care functions effectively, communities are healthier, trust in government increases and governance outcomes improve,” he said.
Similarly, the Director of Medical Services and Disease Control, Dr Veronica Iwayemi, described primary health care as not only a health sector concern but also a development priority and test of political and administrative leadership.
She stressed that collaboration with local government leaders was indispensable to maternal and child health services, routine immunization and preventive care.
Iwayemi noted that while significant investments had been made in infrastructure, human resources and financing, strong governance and aligned leadership were critical for success.
“No single institution can build a resilient primary health care system in isolation. Only coordinated, accountable and united leadership can deliver the quality of care our people deserve,” she said.
Dr Kabiru Attah, Country Director of Engender Health, who spoke on behalf of development partners, commended the state government’s resolve to improve PHC delivery and reaffirmed partners’ commitment to supporting Lagos in achieving its health goals.
In his remarks, the Chairman of Conference 57, Mr Sesan Olowa, pledged that council chairmen would intensify efforts to improve funding, infrastructure and governance to deliver quality health care to residents.
Conference 57 is the forum of executive chairmen of all 57 local government areas and local council development areas in Lagos State.
