By Aderonke Ojediran
The Society for Family Health (SFH), through its affiliate organisation, SFH Access to Health (SFH Access), on Thursday inaugurated the CoElevate Catalytic Fund.
The initiative is aimed at strengthening health innovation and supporting startups across Nigeria.
The fund, developed with the support of the Lagos State Ministry of Health, will provide financial and technical assistance to early-stage companies working in health technology, water, sanitation and hygiene (WASH).
Other areas include pharmaceutical research and design, and non-communicable diseases (NCDs).
Chairman of SFH Access Board, Alhaji Ahmed Yakasai, described the programme as a milestone investment in the country’s health ecosystem.
“This initiative reflects our commitment to the future of healthcare and the needs of vulnerable people.
“Innovation is central to solving our health challenges, and we are determined to help the next generation of health startups grow,” he said.
Yakasai added that the CoElevate Catalytic Fund will support ideas capable of transforming care delivery.
“Nigeria is rich with innovators. What many of them need is structured support, and this fund is designed to give them the financial and technical backing required to scale impactful solutions,” he said.
Similarly, Mr Dennis Aizobu, Managing Director of Programmes at SFH Access, said the fund reinforces the organisation’s belief that continuous innovation is essential to national progress.
“As a system, we can only thrive through deliberate investment in new ideas.
“Today, we are taking a bold step to support solutions that address the country’s pressing health problems,” he said.
He stressed that improving access remains the core objective of the initiative.
“Access to healthcare, access to dignity, access to basic needs, these are the issues that matter.
“Whether in WASH, NCDs, or bridging academia and the pharmaceutical sector, we are building the ecosystem required for transformative impact,” he said.
Aizobu commended the SFH Board of Directors for their leadership and support that made the project possible.
SFH Access, established in 2022, focuses on expanding access to affordable and quality healthcare through innovation, inclusivity and large-scale partnerships.
The new fund, it said, is part of its long-term commitment to advancing universal health coverage in Nigeria. (NAN)(www.nannews.ng)
Edited by Oluwafunke Ishola
