Experts highlight role of social innovation in transforming Nigeria’s healthcare

Medical experts have stated that empowering communities is essential for driving social health innovations in Nigeria.

The experts said this during a one-day workshop with the theme “Dissemination of Indigenous Social Health Innovation and Capacity Building” in Abuja on Wednesday.

The Federal Ministry of Innovation, Science and Technology organised the workshop in collaboration with the Social Innovation in Health Initiative, Nigeria Hub.

In her remarks, the former Director of the African Programme for Onchocerciasis Control, Dr Uche Amazigo, underscored the importance of community involvement in health research, asserting that any research not grounded in community needs is a waste.

She said, “The Social Innovation in Health Initiative (SIHI) is a pivotal programme that leverages competitive grants and collaborations, such as with a university in Ghana, to provide impactful health solutions at the grassroots level. Over 40 initiatives have emerged in Nigeria, creating a hub for community-based social innovations in child care.”

The SIHI Nigeria Hub Team Lead, Obioma Nwaorgu, said the initiative’s approach is to engage various stakeholders including communities, government representatives, and the private sector—to tackle systemic health challenges.

Nwaorgu emphasised the importance of crowdsourcing ideas from communities to identify their specific health needs.

She said, “Communities have to say what they need. This participatory approach ensures that health interventions are relevant and effective.

She noted that the initiative has already recognised three social innovators this year, including Mama’s Pride and Shiktra Maternal Newborn and Child Health Care Foundation, which focus on maternal health and child care.

The Permanent Secretary FMIST, Esuabana Asanya, represented by the Director of Planning Research and Policy Analysis, Salamatu Mohammed, said SIHI’s aims are in line with the renewed hope agenda of President Bola Tinubu for the healthcare sector in Nigeria.

She added that collaborations between government and other stakeholders have yielded to positive results for the development of the country.

She noted that innovation is key to unlocking the world of possibilities, adding that the country must harness its power for nation-building.

Mohammed stated that though Nigeria has made strides, access to healthcare, infrastructure, and malnutrition remains a serious challenge in the country, whereby women and children are mostly affected.

She noted that the WHO reported that Nigeria accounts for 20 per cent of maternal mortality, adding that inadequate water and insecurity have also impacted negatively the health and well-being of the people.