Nigeria is stepping up as a leader in Africa’s efforts to build resilient health systems by championing sustainable financing and medical oxygen security at the upcoming Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF), scheduled for July 15 in Abuja.
The Director-General of the West African Institute of Public Health, Dr. Francis Ohanyido disclosed this in an interview on Saturday in Abuja.
The forum will be opened by Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, who is expected to convene key stakeholders from across the continent to accelerate progress toward universal health coverage (UHC) anchored on robust primary health care (PHC) systems.
“A major highlight of the event will be the Africa regional launch of the Lancet Global Health Commission Report on Medical Oxygen Security,” Ohanyido said.
He noted that the report emphasizes the life-saving role of medical oxygen, particularly in low- and middle-income countries, where shortages contribute to avoidable deaths.
The Lancet report estimates that $6.8 billion is needed annually to meet the global demand for medical oxygen—a target that experts say is attainable with stronger political commitment and domestic financing.
“Nigeria showed early leadership on this front by launching its National Oxygen Strategy as far back as 2016,” he added.
Prof. Pate, in a recent statement, reaffirmed that strong primary health care remains the bedrock of UHC. “Investing in PHC leads to healthier communities, better outcomes, and resilience against future health shocks,” he stated.
Beyond oxygen security, the APHCF will also focus on aligning donor funding with national priorities and strengthening public financial management (PFM) to ensure effective use of health resources.
“These principles are central to the Lusaka Agenda, a global initiative encouraging countries to reduce aid dependency and assume ownership of their health systems,” Ohanyido said.
According to him, the Lusaka Agenda aims to transform global health initiatives by advocating for sustainable, equitable health systems through increased domestic financing and coordinated planning.
One of the forum’s flagship sessions—a plenary on partnerships—will explore how financial alignment and transparency can unlock progress in PHC delivery. The session will be led by the World Bank, Global Financing Facility, UNICEF, the Government of Nigeria, and the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health.
Ohanyido also highlighted Nigeria’s adoption of the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp), where stakeholders support a unified national health plan. This model is being recognized as a blueprint for effective collaboration.
“The forum’s emphasis on oxygen access, sustainable financing, and coordinated efforts could mark a turning point for health systems in Africa,” he said.
With many African countries facing tight budgets and high disease burdens, Ohanyido stressed that the APHCF is more than just a policy meeting—it is a call to action.
“Universal health coverage and health security require more than declarations; they demand real, scalable, and sustained investments in primary health care. The time to act is now,” he concluded.
