The Federal Government has launched three flagship programmes aimed at accelerating human capital development, improving healthcare delivery, strengthening social protection and supporting vulnerable Nigerians.
The programmes,Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity (HOPE), Nigeria Community Action for Resilience and Economic Stimulus Additional Financing (NG-CARES AF) and Solutions for Internally Displaced Persons and Host Communities (SOLID) were unveiled on Thursday at the State House in Abuja.
Speaking at the launch, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, said Nigeria has delivered on key commitments under the 2023 Health Sector Compact, with reforms already producing measurable improvements across the health sector.
Pate said the reforms are being implemented through the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHRII), launched by President Bola Tinubu in December 2023 and anchored on strengthening governance, expanding equitable access to quality healthcare, unlocking the healthcare value chain, and improving health security and resilience.
He said the initiative is built on the principle of “One Plan, One Budget, One Report,” aligning investments by the Federal Government, state governments, the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, the HOPE Programme, the Multi-Donor Trust Fund and development partners.
According to him, more than 3,000 Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs) have been revitalised nationwide, while nearly 1,000 additional facilities are currently being upgraded.
He added that over 43,000 women and newborns have benefited from emergency medical transport services, more than 42,000 Comprehensive Emergency Obstetric and Newborn Care (CEmONC) interventions have been delivered, over 78,000 frontline health workers have been retrained, and 251 secondary health facilities have received maternal and newborn health equipment.
Pate also disclosed that quarterly visits to Basic Healthcare Provision Fund-supported facilities have increased to 45.5 million, up from fewer than 10 million in 2023, while improvements in skilled birth attendance, antenatal care, immunisation coverage and family planning uptake are translating into better health outcomes.
“Our reforms are anchored on measurement, evidence and accountability. The results we are seeing across primary healthcare show that coordinated investments are strengthening the health system, increasing service utilisation and improving the health of Nigerians,” Pate said.
He added, “The additional investments under HOPE-PHC will further accelerate progress towards universal access to quality primary healthcare.”
Pate said the achievements demonstrate that coordinated investments by the Federal Government, state governments, local governments and development partners are producing measurable results.
“Nigeria has delivered on key commitments of the 2023 Health Sector Compact, demonstrating that our health sector reforms are producing measurable results through coordinated investments.”
Also speaking, the World Bank Country Director for Nigeria, Dr. Mathew Verghis, commended the Federal Government’s leadership in implementing the Health Sector Compact.
He described the HOPE-PHC Programme and complementary financing mechanisms as “important platforms for expanding access to quality healthcare and advancing Nigeria’s human capital development agenda.”
The Federal Government said the rollout of the HOPE, NG-CARES AF and SOLID programmes marks another milestone in its efforts to translate economic reforms into measurable improvements in healthcare, education, social protection and the wellbeing of Nigerians.