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In what observers have hailed as a defining moment for Nigeria’s health sector, top government officials, media executives, and international development partners have converged on Abuja to chart a new course for strengthening the nation’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system. The High-Level Health Media Dialogue, themed “Strengthening Primary Healthcare: A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Maternal Mortality and Enhancing Child Health in Nigeria,” marked a renewed commitment to accountability, collaboration, and evidence-based advocacy in improving the country’s health outcomes.

The dialogue, organized by the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH) under the Advocacy Solution Project, with implementation support from EngenderHealth and funding from international partners, brought together high-ranking officials including the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, and the Governors of Kaduna, Lagos, and Kano States.

The forum underscored the crucial role of the media as a bridge between public policy, citizen engagement, and accountability — and as an indispensable partner in driving progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC).

“Media as a Lifeline in Public Health Reform” — Moji Makanjuola

In her opening address, Dr. (Mrs.) Moji Makanjuola, MFR, Executive Director of ISMPH and a respected veteran broadcaster, welcomed participants to what she described as a “strategic convergence” between health, communication, and policy.

“This gathering is not just another policy roundtable,” she declared. “It is a convergence that underscores the vital nexus between health, communication, public understanding, advocacy, and accountability.”

Makanjuola, whose decades-long career in public health communication has shaped national discourse on health reform, drew attention to the urgent realities of Nigeria’s poor health indices.

Citing the 2023 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS), she lamented that Nigeria still records one of the highest maternal mortality ratios in the world — 512 deaths per 100,000 live births, and an under-five mortality rate of 102 deaths per 1,000 live births. “These numbers translate to 82,000 Nigerian women dying annually from pregnancy-related causes, and one in every ten children not living to see their fifth birthday,” she said.

However, Makanjuola stressed that these figures were “not meant to indict but to inspire” — to spark deeper reforms, coordinated investment, and collective accountability.

“When our PHCs work, maternal and child mortality declines, immunization coverage improves, and poverty linked to ill health is broken,” she noted. “Every well-researched documentary, every investigative feature, every community radio dialogue that informs citizens about immunization or family planning contributes directly to saving lives.”

She called for journalism that goes beyond surface reportage to data-driven storytelling that inspires reform. “When the media leads with evidence, empathy, and ethics, it becomes a powerful force for health equity,” she concluded.

Federal Government Reaffirms Commitment to Reform

Delivering his remarks, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, reaffirmed President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s dedication to reforming the nation’s healthcare architecture through strategic collaboration and transparency.

“The media can help shape a narrative of possibility and renewal — not just lamentation,” Pate said. “Constructive reporting can mobilize citizens and leaders alike to rebuild our health system.”

The minister cautioned against corruption and mismanagement at the facility level, identifying them as key impediments to progress. He revealed that the federal government has expanded direct financing to PHC centres nationwide and urged citizens and journalists to ensure that resources reach their intended beneficiaries.

States Showcase Models of Reform and Innovation

The forum also highlighted state-level innovations, with Governors Uba Sani (Kaduna), Babajide Sanwo-Olu (Lagos), and Abba Kabir Yusuf (Kano) commended for their transformative approaches to PHC revitalization.

Governor Uba Sani shared Kaduna’s reform experience, noting that his administration has prioritized health worker recruitment, infrastructure renewal, and improved financing mechanisms.

“Our journey in Kaduna demonstrates that meaningful change is achievable when government, citizens, and the media work together,” he stated. “Sustainability depends on continued accountability and transparency at all levels of governance.”

ISMPH’s report highlighted Kaduna’s allocation of 15% of its state budget to health, the recruitment of 1,800 new health workers, and the need to fund the Vulnerable Group Health Insurance Programme, which would benefit 60,000 women and children.

In Kano State, Governor Yusuf’s administration was commended for achieving a 91% health budget performance in 2024, a feat attributed to strong fiscal discipline and political commitment. The report urged the state to raise PHC’s share of the total health budget from 9.9% to at least 15% by 2026.

Lagos State, under Governor Sanwo-Olu, was recognized for pioneering health system innovation through capital investments and the establishment of six district PHC offices. The state was urged to align its budget with the 15% Abuja Declaration target and to create a Drug and Medical Supplies Management Agency to improve access and efficiency.

“These three states are exemplars of what political will and evidence-based advocacy can achieve,” Makanjuola noted. “They offer a roadmap for other regions striving to strengthen their PHC systems.”

Development Partners Call for Media Empowerment

Representing the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Mr. Uche Amaonwu, Nigeria Country Director, described the media as an “accountability partner” in national health reform.

“When the media tracks budgets, investigates supply gaps, or highlights unpaid health workers, it turns public policy into public awareness,” he said. “That awareness drives citizen action — and compels leadership to act.”

Amaonwu emphasized the need to equip journalists with credible data and analytical capacity to strengthen oversight and ensure evidence-based advocacy.

Advocacy Solution Project: Bridging Policy and Implementation

The Advocacy Solution Project, jointly implemented by EngenderHealth and ISMPH, serves as a vital catalyst for improving PHC delivery in Lagos, Kano, and Kaduna States. Through data-driven advocacy and collaborative monitoring, the project bridges the gap between policy commitments and practical implementation.

Preliminary results show improved service quality, greater uptake of maternal and child health interventions, and a growing culture of accountability within the health sector.

A Shared Vision for a Healthier Nigeria

The dialogue concluded with a collective resolution to strengthen partnerships that advance Nigeria’s health agenda under the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) framework.

Delegates unanimously agreed that improved health outcomes depend on sustained communication, data-driven advocacy, and transparent governance.

In her closing remarks, Makanjuola issued a passionate call to action:
“As we gather here today, let us reaffirm our commitment to making childbirth in Nigeria a joyful experience, not a life-threatening ordeal. Let us build a nation where no mother dies giving life, and no child is denied the right to survive and thrive.”

She concluded with a message of hope and resolve: “Together, through partnership and purpose, we can strengthen our Primary Health Care system, advance Universal Health Coverage, and build a healthier, more resilient Nigeria.”