The Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), Dr. Muyi Aina, says President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s administration is taking bold and strategic steps to guarantee affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians.
Dr. Aina made this known in Abuja at the National Flag-off of Performance and Financial Management Officers (PFMOs) for the North Central Zone, describing the reforms as a comprehensive plan to transform the health sector through improved access, quality, and affordability.
“The commitment of President Tinubu’s administration is clear—to provide access to essential health services that are of high quality and at low cost to Nigerians,” Dr. Aina emphasized.
He outlined several key elements of the ongoing reform, notably the use of four distinct gateways of the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to channel increased funding through states, local governments, and directly to primary healthcare facilities.
According to him, over 60,700 health workers have been recruited in recent months to address the manpower gap in health facilities nationwide. The recruitment drive is part of a broader effort to build a resilient primary healthcare system capable of delivering universal health coverage.
Beyond personnel, Dr. Aina said the government is investing in infrastructure upgrades, including the installation of solar power, provision of modern medical equipment, and improved availability of essential commodities at primary health centres.
“We are revitalizing facilities, equipping them with solar power and modern infrastructure, and ensuring that medical supplies are available and accessible,” he added.
Dr. Aina also revealed that a critical phase of the reform implementation is currently underway and is expected to conclude within the next two weeks.
Delivering a keynote address at the event, Dr. Onoriode Ezire, a Senior Health Specialist with the World Bank, reiterated the World Health Organization’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s primary healthcare transformation.
He emphasized the pivotal role of the newly deployed PFMOs in driving performance-based healthcare financing at the grassroots.
“The success of this initiative rests squarely on the shoulders of these officers. They are not just financial managers; they are the backbone of performance-based healthcare financing,” Dr. Ezire said.