By Oluwafunke Ishola
The Lagos State Government has charged all its 57 local governments and development council chairmen to improve funding and political commitment to strengthen development of the primary health care system.
The Special Adviser to Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, made the call on Monday during a joint leadership dialogue on PHCs.
The event had the theme: “Strengthening the Primary Health Care System: A Joint Leadership Dialogue”.
The event was convened by the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, in collaboration with the Nigeria Health Watch, Engender Health, World Bank, UNICEF, CCSI, ISMPH, CHAI, among other partners.
Ogunyemi noted the PHC system remained the foundation of health service delivery in Lagos, and central to the attainment of Universal Health Coverage(UHC) which is a critical pillar of the THEMES Plus Agenda of the administration.
She emphasised that this was critical to ensuring improved health outcomes, social inclusion, and human capital development.
“Distinguished Chairmen, the effective functioning of the Primary Health Care system is intrinsically linked to strong leadership, governance, and coordination at the LGA and LCDA levels, in line with the PHC Under One Roof policy framework.
“Your offices play a critical role in providing political leadership, ensuring adequate funding, strengthening oversight, and fostering community ownership of PHC facilities within your jurisdictions.”
She urged the chairmen to support counterpart funding obligations, strengthen collaboration with the Primary Health Care Board, and ensure accountability in the management of PHC resources and services.
Ogunyemi assured of the state government’s commitment to revitalising primary health care through sustained investments, improved governance structures, and the optimal utilisation of available funding windows, including the Basic Health Care Provision Fund.
Priority areas such as routine immunisation, maternal, newborn and child health services, disease surveillance, and community mobilisation, she said, require deliberate and coordinated actions at the local government level to translate policy into measurable impact for residents.
Ogunyemi also called on all stakeholders to collaborate with the government at all levels to promote coordination, sustainability, and shared ownership of primary health care interventions across the state.
She expressed optimism that the dialogue would further deepen mutual understanding, enhance intergovernmental collaboration, and yield practical resolutions that would strengthen primary health care delivery in the state.
The Chairman, Lagos State House of Assembly Committee on Health, Hon. Musibau Lawal, disclosed that supervisory activities of the Committee clearly indicated that more needed to be done in ensuring that PHC facilities are fully functional.
This, he said, included the provision of basic amenities, availability of essential equipment, adequate staffing, security, water supply, power, and a supportive working environment that enables health workers to perform optimally.
He commended the efforts of several local government chairpersons who had taken deliberate steps to construct new PHC facilities and renovate existing ones across their areas.
“However, while infrastructure is essential, we must all acknowledge that a functional PHC facility is far more than a building.
“A truly effective PHC system is one that is supported by good governance structures, robust and continuous service delivery, adequate financing, strong leadership involvement, and full political and administrative support for PHC services and public health programme implementation.”
He urged them to provide stronger institutional support to PHC services by empowering their Local Government Health Authority (LGHA) to effectively implement government policies, programmes, and reforms aimed at achieving equitable, accessible, and quality health care for residents.
“Your active involvement in PHC governance, budgetary prioritisation, monitoring of facilities, and engagement with community structures will significantly strengthen accountability and improve health outcomes within your jurisdictions.”
Similarly, Dr Ibrahim Mustafa, Permanent Secretary, Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, said the dialogue was to harmonise the state and local government’s position toward improving health care delivery.
Mustafa said the event offered an opportunity to strengthen collaboration that would build a resilient and people-centred PHC system that meets the needs of residents.
“Where our primary health care system functions, the community is healthier, trust in government is stronger, it’s even easier for our political leaders to win votes.”
Similarly, Dr Veronica Iwayemi, Director, Medical Services and Disease Control, said primary health care was not only a health sector concern but a development priority, social protection instrument, and test of political and administrative leadership.
Iwayemi emphasised that collaboration with leaders of the local government and councils is indispensable to maternal and child health, routine immunisation, or preventative care which occur within their areas.
She acknowledged that significant investments had been made in the state in areas like infrastructure, human resources, financing, and reforms, noting that systems do not succeed by structures alone.
“They succeed when governance is clear, roles are well defined, and leadership across all tiers is aligned around a common vision.
“Because no single institution can build a resilient primary health care system in isolation. Only coordinated, accountable, and united leadership can deliver the quality of care our people deserve.”
Dr Kabiru Atta, Country Director, Engender Health, who spoke on behalf of the partners commended the resolve exhibited by the state to improve primary health care delivery.
Attah reiterated the partners’ commitment to supporting the state in actualising its goals.
Mr Sesan Olowa, Chairman, Conference 57, said efforts would be taken to improve funding, infrastructure and governance system to provide quality healthcare to residents.
Conference 57 is the forum of Executive Chairmen of all 57 Local Government Areas and Council Chairmen in Lagos state. (NAN)www.nannews.ng
Edited by Vivian Ihechu
