President Bola Ahmed Tinubu on Wednesday revealed that over N98 billion was disbursed last year to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria, marking one of the largest single-year investments in grassroots health services in recent times.

Tinubu, who was represented by the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Sen. George Akume, made this known at the All Progressives Congress (APC) National Health Convention and Roundtable 1.0 in Abuja.

The President said the funds were released through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to support operational expenses in more than 8,300 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) nationwide.

He added that the disbursement is part of the administration’s broader push to reposition the health sector as a cornerstone of national development.

Tinubu explained that the financial injection has supported the ongoing revitalisation of PHCs, with 2,565 centres already upgraded and another 1,456 currently undergoing rehabilitation.

The Special Adviser on Media and Publicity to the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, Mr. Yomi Odunuga, in a statement, quoted the President as saying that the upgraded facilities now provide 24-hour services, staffed with trained health workers and equipped with essential medicines, basic medical equipment, as well as stable power and water supply.

He further revealed that the funding framework is being expanded to accommodate an additional 5,212 facilities, which will bring the total number of benefiting primary healthcare centres to over 13,500 across the country. The move is expected to deepen access to quality healthcare, particularly in rural and underserved communities.

His words: “We have strengthened the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and consistently disbursed the quarterly allocation to primary healthcare centres, with over N98 billion disbursed to support operational expenses for over 8,300 primary healthcare facilities last year. Also, we are expanding this very critical and sustainable domestic financing mechanism to an additional 5,212 primary healthcare centres to reach a total of over 13,500 facilities. We have expanded health insurance coverage and provided it to over 10 million vulnerable individuals.

“In 2023, I tasked the Minister of Health with retraining 120,000 primary healthcare workers within four years. This is to empower them to deliver quality healthcare services to our people and also enable them to compete with their counterparts across the world. In just two years, over 78,000 frontline health workers have been trained. These include doctors, nurses, midwives, CHEWs and JCHEWs.”

He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to comprehensive health sector reform, declaring that quality healthcare delivery remains a central pillar of his Renewed Hope Agenda.

President Tinubu described the health sector as fundamental to national productivity, security, economic growth and human dignity, stressing that “a country cannot be prosperous if its citizens are unhealthy.”

The President further highlighted progress under the Maternal and Newborn Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII), which he said is tracking pregnant women in 172 high-burden local government areas. He said more than 100,000 pregnant women have been linked to health facilities for antenatal, delivery and postnatal services, with free emergency maternal and newborn care provided in supported facilities.

Tinubu also spoke on efforts to reduce Nigeria’s dependence on imported medicines through the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC). He said the initiative is incentivising local pharmaceutical manufacturing, strengthening regulatory capacity and promoting the backward integration of active pharmaceutical ingredients.

Calling on the All Progressives Congress governors and legislators to align with federal reforms, the President urged states to increase health budget allocations towards the 15 per cent Abuja Declaration benchmark, ensure the functionality of primary and secondary health facilities, strengthen state health insurance schemes and publish measurable annual health scorecards.

“As a ruling party, we must hold ourselves accountable,” he said, posing questions about budgetary priorities, facility functionality, worker motivation and direct funding to health centres.

Tinubu emphasised that health reform must transcend politics, describing it as an act of patriotism. He challenged the party’s National Executive Committee to consider requesting annual reports on key health and development indices from governors and local government chairmen.

“This convention must not turn into a mere talk shop,” the President said. “Let APC be the first party to institutionalise health reform in Nigeria.”

He also called on the private sector, development partners, traditional rulers and faith leaders to deepen collaboration with the government in delivering accessible and affordable healthcare services. (TRIBUNE)