Stakeholders must reflect health sector challenges, progress, Pate says

Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, has urged health stakeholders, including the media to embrace balanced reporting that highlights both challenges and progress in the health sector, saying such narratives can transform public perception and strengthen confidence in ongoing reforms.

Speaking at a Media Advocacy Dialogue organized by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) in Abuja, Pate said improving Nigeria’s health system requires not just technical expertise but a shared national consensus that places health and education at the centre of development priorities.

“For too long, we have focused on what’s broken without coming together to fix it. Health is not only technical, it’s a political choice reflected in how a nation allocates and uses its resources,” he said.

He explained that while years of underfunding had weakened the system, recent fiscal and monetary reforms—such as subsidy removal, tax restructuring, and exchange rate alignment—have boosted government revenue and opened new opportunities for investment in healthcare.

According to him, these reforms have provided states with more funds to revitalise primary health centres and recruit essential workers, but citizens must hold leaders accountable for how resources are used.

Citing milestones such as the revitalisation of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), expansion of Primary Health Centres (PHCs), upgrades in tertiary hospitals, and training of frontline health workers, Pate said these achievements deserve equal media attention.

He stressed that sustaining progress requires a collective shift in mindset—anchored on transparency, collaboration, and constructive reporting—to build public trust and national confidence in the health system.

“With balanced reporting and shared accountability. Nigeria can inspire trust, sustain reforms, and deliver quality healthcare for all,” Pate noted.

The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, emphasized that PHCs remain the first point of access to medical services for millions, especially in rural areas. 

He described them as the backbone of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and said recent reforms have restored public confidence in PHCs, reflected in increased patient visits across communities.

He urged citizens to engage more actively by using available services, demanding accountability, and supporting the system to ensure sustainability and improved outcomes nationwide.

Highlighting his state’s modest strides, Kaduna State Governor Uba Sani said his administration has placed primary healthcare at the centre of its human capital development agenda, ensuring quality care as a right.

Under the One Functional PHC per Ward initiative, he said 255 of Kaduna’s 1,015 facilities have been revitalized, with 23 Centres of Excellence serving as referral hubs. 

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The state’s insurance scheme now covers pregnant women, children under five, and the elderly.

He listed the creation of 120 neonatal corners, renovation of 19 general hospitals, establishment of a 300-bed Bola Ahmed Tinubu Specialist Hospital, and recruitment of 1,800 health workers, with plans to hire the same number annually for the next five years.

Sani said these efforts reflect the Renewed Hope Agenda’s focus on expanding access and reducing maternal and child mortality.

Lagos and Kano States also showcased their achievements. 

The Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Healthcare Board, Akinwunmi Ibrahim, and Kano’s Health Commissioner, Dr. Abubakar Labaran Yusuf, highlighted investments in PHC revitalization and maternal health initiatives, saying such successes deserve more media attention despite persistent funding challenges.

Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation Country Director, Uche Amaonwu, commended Nigeria’s progress but urged stronger accountability, saying journalists must follow health budgets and amplify citizens’ voices to sustain reforms.

ISMPH Executive Director, Chief Moji Makanjuola, said collaboration among government, partners, and the media remains crucial to reducing maternal and child deaths. 

She stressed that consistent media spotlight on health issues strengthens public awareness, trust, and service uptake.

According to her, when journalists tell stories of real change—such as the revitalisation of PHCs in Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna or the recruitment of frontline health workers—they help citizens appreciate reforms and inspire confidence in the health system.

Makanjuola said the media’s storytelling power connects policy to the people it serves, turning technical reforms into relatable human experiences.

“Every documentary that educates mothers on antenatal care, every radio dialogue that promotes immunisation, and every feature that highlights family planning or newborn care directly contributes to saving lives,” she said.

She added that sustained visibility of both progress and challenges fuels accountability, transparency, and citizen participation as key pillars of UHC.

While urging states to commit at least 15 percent of their budgets to health, she commended the Federal Government’s revitalization of the BHCPF, as well as Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna for revitalizing PHCs. 

While commending these efforts, she called for community monitoring to ensure transparency, citing ISMPH’s Advocacy Solution Project supported by the Gates Foundation, she said the initiative has strengthened accountability and improved service delivery in Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna.

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