Health
Nigeria must be intentional in health system approaches- Pate
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has emphasised the need for Nigeria to be more intentional in its health system approaches to tackle health challenges.
He made the statement at the Society for Family Health’s (SFH) 40th-anniversary celebration and book presentation in Abuja on Tuesday.
Pate, represented by Mr Chinedu Moghalu, highlighted the importance of proactive and strategic actions to ensure the health of all Nigerians.
He noted that global health challenges, such as pandemics and healthcare inequities, required more intentional approaches.
“This is not the time for reactive measures; instead, we must take proactive, strategic action to ensure the health and wellbeing of all Nigerians.
“Intentionality serves as both a reflection on our past achievements and a roadmap for future progress.
“Over the past 40 years, we have learned valuable lessons that will guide our efforts to address the health challenges of today and tomorrow.
“As we strive to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC), reduce maternal mortality, and build stronger health systems, the Society for Family Health (SFH) will remain a vital partner in Nigeria’s health transformation.”
He emphasised the importance of local ownership and community-driven health interventions.
He added that the partnerships have enabled SFH to achieve remarkable progress in areas such as HIV prevention, malaria control, and reproductive health.
“What makes SFH’s partnership model unique is its focus on local ownership.
“SFH has partnered not only with international organisations but also with state and local governments, ensuring that health interventions are rooted in local contexts and driven by the communities they serve.
“This approach has been critical in ensuring that healthcare solutions are effective and sustainable in the long term.”
He commended the organisation’s ability to operate in Nigeria’s most challenging regions, providing healthcare in conflict-affected areas in the Northeast and building health resilience in the Northwest.
Looking ahead, Pate emphasised the importance of partnerships in implementing the National Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII).
SFH’s Managing Director, Dr Omokhudu Idogho, reflected on the organisation’s 40-year journey, highlighting its commitment to partnership, strong guidance, and leadership.
He noted that SFH had been renewing itself internally to respond to emerging challenges.
“We achieved this by acquiring the necessary talent, revising and developing internal systems that are more resilient and responsive to emerging challenges, and building new capabilities.
“We began by focusing on family planning, and as HIV emerged, we developed new capabilities to address it.
“When maternal mortality became a pressing issue, we again adapted and built new capabilities to address this challenge.”
Idogho shared SFH’s vision to continue innovating in areas such as supply chain, human resources for health, data systems, and health financing.
He added that capability was also being built on a public-private model for service delivery.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Society for Family Health (SFH) is a pan-African non-governmental organization founded in 1983 by Prof. Olikoye Ransome-Kuti, Malam Dahiru Wali, and Justice Ifeyinwa Nzeako.
(NAN)
Health
Experts call for pharma sector harmonisation
Health sector experts have called for the harmonisation of pharmaceutical activities in Nigeria to eliminate duplication, enhance efficiency, and improve access to quality medicines and health products.
The call was made on Wednesday in Abuja during a high-level stakeholders’ engagement focused on aligning efforts under the Improving Access to Medicines through Policy and Technical Support (IMPACT) project.
Dr Tayo Hamzat, Supply Chain Management Officer at the World Health Organisation (WHO), said the engagement was timely, considering the number of ongoing but uncoordinated interventions in the sector.
“Harmonisation will lead to faster access to health products, lower costs, improved efficiency, and better regulatory oversight.
“It requires collaboration and a focus on strengthening national systems.”
He described Nigeria’s pharmaceutical system as “robust and huge” but hindered by weak coordination and fragmented management structures.
Dr Francis Ohanyido, Director-General of the West Africa Institute of Public Health, said such collaboration was “common sense” given limited development financing and the need to optimise resources.
“Market shaping is a critical tool.
“Harmonisation can help us identify clear gaps we need to fill, especially in preparation for the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA),” he said.
Dr Anthony Ayeke, Programme Manager for Health and Nutrition at the EU Delegation to Nigeria and ECOWAS, reaffirmed the EU’s commitment to supporting a resilient, locally driven pharmaceutical sector.
“Harmonisation can accelerate local production, reduce import dependency, and improve healthcare system resilience,” he noted.
He also recommended regulatory streamlining, value chain capacity building, innovation, and public-private partnerships.
Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator of the Pharmaceutical Value Chain Transformation Committee (PVAC), commended ongoing efforts under the IMPACT project.
Represented by Dr Muhammad Balarabe, Technical Associate at PVAC, he emphasised the committee’s focus on catalysing local production and attracting sustainable investment.
“Let’s use this platform to strengthen partnerships and align interventions with the vision of affordable, high-quality healthcare for all Nigerians,” he said.
Dr Obi Adigwe, Director-General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development (NIPRD), said fragmented interventions and redundant regulations had long stunted growth in the sector.
Represented by Prof. Philip Builders, Professor of Pharmaceutics at NIPRD he said: “Equitable access to quality medicine is the foundation of universal healthcare.
“The lack of access is not just a health issue; it’s about equity, national security, and economic survival.
“Harmonisation isn’t just about avoiding duplication; it’s about aligning policy, investment, and technical frameworks to achieve measurable results.”
He urged stakeholders to develop practical short, medium, and long-term strategies to make Nigeria’s pharmaceutical sector self-reliant, globally competitive, and able to meet national healthcare demands.
The meeting brought together key government agencies, development partners, and private sector actors, each reaffirming a shared commitment to a unified, efficient pharmaceutical ecosystem in Nigeria.
NAN
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