The Federal Government has launched the distribution of medical equipment and essential drugs worth over ₦23 billion across Nigeria. The move is part of efforts to strengthen the country’s primary healthcare system.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, officially flagged off the distribution in Abuja on Thursday. He said the initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery nationwide.
Describing the exercise as a “promise kept” under the ongoing health sector reforms, Pate noted that it aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
He warned against the diversion of the items, stressing that they are central to reviving the primary healthcare system. He added that strict monitoring will be carried out and any misuse would attract firm action.
Pate assured that the ministry would work closely with the Primary Health Care Development Agency and security agencies like the EFCC, ICPC, and police to track the distribution.
According to him, the initiative will make childbirth safer, provide access to vaccines, and ensure treatment for common illnesses such as malaria and hypertension at the community level.
The minister noted that many primary healthcare centres had been non-functional for years, forcing women to travel long distances for delivery. This, he said, had led to needless deaths, while children missed out on vaccines.
He explained that the current reforms will bring quality healthcare closer to the people, regardless of where they live or their social status.
Pate also stressed that the programme is not just about infrastructure but also about medicines, equipment, and manpower to restore public trust in primary healthcare facilities.
He recalled that the reforms began two years ago and are already yielding results, with many women across the country expressing their gratitude.
The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, described the distribution as a landmark step toward the government’s health agenda.
He said more than 500 revitalized primary healthcare centres across the 36 states and the FCT would benefit from 56 categories of equipment and 80 types of essential medicines, all valued at over ₦23 billion.
Aina explained that the equipment and drugs were jointly funded by the Federal Government and development partners. He said the intervention builds on earlier efforts such as the supply of maternal and neonatal commodities, cold-chain equipment, and solar power installations in more than 1,000 PHCs.
He further broke down the distribution: ₦14 billion was spent on 80 different medicines, while over ₦9 billion went into 56 types of medical equipment. All of these will be sent free of charge to states and the FCT.
According to him, the support is aimed at reducing maternal deaths and bridging reproductive health gaps. He added that more than 14,000 women have already benefitted from emergency care, including free caesarean sections and transport vouchers.
Aina also said that, in partnership with the First Lady’s Renewed Hope Initiative, maternal kits and other essential items have been provided. Over 69,000 frontline health workers have been trained, while states like Kaduna and Ekiti have recruited more skilled birth attendants and community health workers under the Federal Government’s Project Hope.
He called on states to complement the Federal Government’s effort by investing more in staffing and equipping health centres.
The National Coordinator of the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Initiative (MAMII), Dr. Dayo Adeyanju, praised the Federal Government and NPHCDA, saying the gesture shows strong commitment to protecting the lives
