Nigeria’s President, Bola Tinubu, has approved three health-focused initiatives and comprehensive programs aimed at enhancing population health results and a presidential effort to unlock the healthcare value chain.
The Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, and Vice President for Global Programmes at the Buffett Foundation, Prof. Seniat Fisseha, after a closed-door meeting with the President at the State House, Abuja.
Speaking on the President’s directive, Prof. Pate emphasized three key directives, one of which is the introduction of an ‘ambitious sector-wide program’ with a focus on enhancing population health results.
The Minister added that the aim is geared towards revitalizing the primary healthcare system and deploying foundational healthcare provision fund as its basis.
Prof. Pate said that the Federal government will strengthen collaborations with state governments, communities, and traditional leaders in efforts to ensure better quality services in specific areas such as malaria treatment, immunisation, maternal and child health and reproductive health.
“He has asked us to talk less and do more. And in that spirit, he, in fact, has asked us to pursue a very ambitious sector-wide programme to improve population health outcomes, using the basic healthcare provision fund as a basis for reviving our primary healthcare system and working with state governments and community leaders, traditional leaders to ensure that Nigerians get better quality services and to deal with the issues that bother them.
Revealing collaborations involving the three levels of government and development partners, the Minister of Health disclosed that “the implementation of the comprehensive program is already in progress, and our distinguished guest today is dedicated to collaborating with us on this, focusing on working within existing national systems rather than establishing separate systems.”
“And we’re very glad that the Susan-Buffett Foundation is willing to partner with the Government of Nigeria to advance the health and wellbeing of all, especially our adolescent girls and women.”
Unlocking the healthcare value chain
The health minister said President Tinubu approved a presidential initiative aiming at the medical industrialisation of Nigeria.
The initiative will foster collaborations between the public and private sectors, with the government ensuring an enabling environment and the private sector focusing on critical healthcare production, he stated.
Prof. Pate also said that President Tinubu’s directive to devise a social action fund is intended to empower communities at the grassroots.
“Mr President has also approved an initiative, a presidential initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain, that will help drive the medical industrialisation agenda with clear targets. It will require the public and private sectors working hand in hand,” Pate explained.
Speaking for the Buffett Foundation, the Vice President for Global Programmes, Prof. Fisseha, said the foundation, known for its focus on women, girls, and primary health care, aligns perfectly with the government’s goals.
Prof. Fisseha commended the President’s action-driven approach, stating that, “I do like the President’s direction on talking less and doing more and getting to action.
“Our hope is that we will be a committed partner to supporting the federal as well as state governments and communities to deliver health for all.”
