— Targets Primary Healthcare Centres in All 774 LGAs

By Chioma Obinna

The Private Sector Health Alliance of Nigeria, PSHAN, has called for enhanced collaboration between the public and private sectors to accelerate the dissemination of health information and improve healthcare delivery across Nigeria.

The call was made by Dr. Tinuola Akinbolagbe, Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of PSHAN, during a press briefing in Lagos as part of preparations for the upcoming PSHAN Conference.

Akinbolagbe highlighted that the annual conference, launched three years ago, serves as a critical platform for revitalizing Nigeria’s healthcare system. She noted that its primary goal is to establish at least one functional Primary Healthcare Centre (PHC) in each of the 774 local government areas in Nigeria.

“PSHAN is a private sector-led organization with a mission to use its platform and the annual conference to galvanise support from the business and organized private sectors. The aim is to pool resources in support of the government’s efforts to improve Nigeria’s healthcare system,” she explained.

Akinbolagbe emphasized that over the past ten years, PSHAN has collaborated with both local and international health organizations, including the Gates Foundation, Gavi, the Global Fund, as well as National Primary Health Care Development Agency, NPHCDA, National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA), and the Federal Ministry of Health.

She listed Access Bank, Zenith Bank, the Aliko Dangote Foundation, and Stanbic IBTC as founding partners actively contributing to the alliance’s initiatives.

This year’s conference, held in partnership with the World Health Expo Lagos, is aimed at advancing equitable access to quality healthcare and wellness for all Nigerians.

Speaking on the partnership’s broader vision, Mr. Clifford Egbomeade, Head of Corporate Communications at PSHAN, revealed that the collaboration aims to extend healthcare initiatives beyond Nigeria to the West African sub-region.

“Our partnership with the World Health Expo Lagos is designed to expand healthcare investment across West Africa. We are also exploring topical issues affecting the healthcare industry in the sub-region,” Egbomeade stated.

He also explained that the theme for this year’s event, “The Creative Catalyst: Driving Sustainable Healthcare Solutions in West Africa,” was inspired by the intersection of the creative industry and healthcare.

“The synergy between creativity and healthcare has birthed four major objectives for this year’s event: exploring innovative healthcare solutions through creativity, encouraging private sector investment via insights from the creative industry, identifying scalable strategies for sustainable healthcare financing, and building strategic partnerships between healthcare stakeholders and creative industry leaders,” he added.

During the briefing, Ms. Timileyin Rotimi-Ojo, Focal Lead of the Adopt-A-Health-Facility Programme (ADHFP), disclosed that 215 facilities have been adopted across all the states in the federation.

Currently, 57 facilities have been revitalised and are operational.

She called for more partners to join the initiative and support the adoption of remaining facilities.

“Our work is grounded in transparency and accountability. Our website, adhfp.org, provides updates and detailed information about our programmes and progress,” Rotimi-Ojo said.

The Head of Membership and Partnerships at PSHAN, Mr. Muyiwa Olowoporoku, stressed the importance of investment in healthcare as a means of ensuring social stability.

He urged the media to amplify the outcomes of the conference beyond Nigeria’s borders.

“We need to create conversations around how investment in health can drive social stability,” Olowoporoku emphasized.

The PSHAN Conference is set to take place at the Landmark Centre, Lagos, attracting key stakeholders from the private sector, business executives, government officials, development partners, academics, and members of the media. The keynote address will be delivered by Mr. Fred Swaniker, Founder and CEO of Sand Technologies.

The event promises to foster innovative solutions, strategic investments, and sustainable healthcare financing models that will redefine healthcare delivery not just in Nigeria, but across the West African region.