The Nigerian government’s transformative strides in healthcare have been attributed to its unprecedented N1.17 trillion 2024 health budget, the largest in the country’s history. Dr. Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator of the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp), highlighted these achievements on Sunday in Abuja, crediting President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda for revitalizing the sector.
Dr. Umar-Sadiq emphasized the pivotal role of the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) in reshaping Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. He noted that the initiative has fostered collaboration across federal, state, and local governments to create a unified, resilient, and accessible health system.
“At the core of these reforms is the revitalization of over 2,100 primary healthcare centers (PHCs), with an additional 3,000 expected to be operational by the end of 2025,” Umar-Sadiq said. “For women who previously walked 10 kilometers to reach a clinic while pregnant, these changes are truly life-saving.”
The reforms also include an N46 billion Direct Financing Facility, channeled through the revamped Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), benefiting over 8,000 healthcare facilities nationwide.
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SWAp highlighted the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which targets 172 high-burden local government areas. He praised tools such as Joint Annual Reviews (JARs) and real-time dashboards for enhancing accountability and efficiency.
“Poor and vulnerable women now have access to free cesarean sections under the expanded National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) package,” he explained. “Additionally, the National Emergency Medical Service and Ambulance System (NEMSAS) ensures timely emergency transport. Women like Amina from Bauchi State are among thousands whose lives have been saved by these interventions.”
Nigeria’s efforts to combat infectious diseases have also gained momentum, with over one million doses of the R21 malaria vaccine rolled out in high-burden states like Kebbi and Bayelsa.
“Nigeria has strengthened its health security infrastructure, establishing Emergency Operations Centers (EOCs) in all geopolitical zones and enhancing genomic surveillance to detect diseases like diphtheria and monkeypox more swiftly,” Umar-Sadiq said.
He also pointed to the Nigeria Climate Change and Health Vulnerability Assessment Report, which positions the country as a leader in integrating climate resilience into health systems.
Over 53,000 frontline health workers have been retrained, with plans to increase this number to 120,000 within three years. The Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC) has catalyzed $1 billion in investments, advancing local production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices.
President Tinubu’s leadership on the global stage was also highlighted, by his appointment as the African Union Champion for Health Workforce Development and the First Lady’s role as a global champion for tuberculosis advocacy.
Despite these gains, SWAp acknowledged persistent challenges such as geographic disparities in healthcare access, high out-of-pocket expenses, and the growing burden of non-communicable diseases.
“Public confidence in the health system has grown significantly, from 37% in 2023 to 54% in 2024,” he said. “These reforms are anchored in the leadership and vision of Mr. President, ensuring that no Nigerian woman will lose her life giving birth, no child will suffer from lack of care, and no family will face financial ruin from illness.”
Dr. Umar-Sadiq concluded by reaffirming the administration’s commitment to building a health system that leaves no one behind. “With bold reforms, increased investments, and strong leadership, we are on track to deliver hope and opportunity for generations to come,” he stated.
The Renewed Hope Agenda has positioned Nigeria as a trailblazer in health systems accountability across Africa, mobilizing over $3 billion in external funding and aligning efforts under the principle of “one vision, one conversation, one budget, one report.”
President Tinubu’s December 12, 2023, declaration that “health is back on the front burner of Nigeria’s policy priorities” has set the tone for a transformative era in healthcare, reaffirming the government’s dedication to the well-being of all Nigerians.
