Winners Emerge In National Primary Health Leadership Challenge

Anambra State has emerged the overall winner of the 2024 Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge, securing $1.2 million in prize money at a gala night held at the State House Conference Centre, Abuja, on Thursday.

The challenge, launched in 2022, aims to strengthen Nigeria’s primary healthcare under the PHC Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy.

Organised by the federal government in collaboration with partners such as the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF), the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, UNICEF, and the Aliko Dangote Foundation, the initiative evaluates states’ performance across six key areas: governance, financing, service delivery, use of evidence, sustainability, and outcomes.

Anambra was awarded $700,000 for best overall performance and an additional $500,000 for being the best-performing state in the South-East zone.

Other zonal winners, who each received $500,000, include Kwara (North-Central), Kaduna (North-West), Rivers (South-South), Osun (South-West), and Yobe (North-East).

First runners-up in each zone, such as Lagos, Delta, and Abia, were awarded $400,000. Gombe State, which placed second in the North-East zone, also received an additional $800,000 for its innovative biometric system that saved the state ₦2.1 billion.

Vice President Kashim Shettima, represented by Special Adviser Aliyu Modibbo Umar, highlighted the government’s commitment to healthcare reforms under President Bola Tinubu.

“The progress we celebrate today is a testament to what can be achieved when we come together with a common purpose to strengthen the systems that touch the lives of our most vulnerable citizens,” he said.

Shettima commended the awardees for their leadership, adding, “By celebrating these achievements, we set a standard for excellence that will resonate far beyond this evening.”

He reiterated the government’s focus on sustainable healthcare systems under Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, emphasizing better access to care for underserved communities.

Chairman of the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) and Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, represented by Anambra State Governor Charles Soludo, praised the initiative.

“This event marks a unique moment as we celebrate three pivotal milestones,” he said, referring to the PHC Leadership Challenge, World Universal Health Coverage Day, and the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative’s anniversary.

AbdulRazaq noted that the challenge builds on commitments made in the 2019 Seattle Declaration, which aims to prioritize PHC reforms at the state level.

“This progress is heartwarming and demonstrates innovative approaches and bold leadership in our quest to improve health outcomes,” he added.

Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, applauded the strides made in PHC, citing a 16.7% decline in under-five mortality and ₦46 billion allocated to support over 8,000 health facilities in 2024.

However, he noted gaps in health expenditure and immunization coverage, calling for continued investment and local leadership.

Uche Amaonwu, Country Director of the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, stressed the importance of strong governance in improving health outcomes, saying, “Your focused leadership is crucial for improving health outcomes in Nigeria.”

Cristian Munduate, UNICEF’s Nigeria representative, emphasized healthcare as a right, adding, “The ministry’s sector-wide approach is a game-changer, uniting planning, budgeting, and implementation for efficiency and accountability.”

Zouera Youssoufou, Managing Director of the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, urged states to sustain the momentum.

The night concluded with calls for stakeholders to work collectively in ensuring equitable and quality healthcare for all Nigerians.