SOCIOCAPITAL

 Reinvigorating Nigeria’s Health Care — Key Reforms of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has embarked on a transformative journey to rectify Nigeria’s longstanding healthcare challenges. Aware of the sector’s important role in national development, his administration is implementing five interventions to make health services more cash-based, qualitatively better, and accessible (2).

1.1 Nigerian Health Sector Reinvigoration Investment Program

Initiated in December 2023, the project aims to reform the country’s primary healthcare system to prioritize maternal, reproductive, and child health services. One of its main aims is to have fully operational Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs)—inadequately functional PHCs were identified as a serious community service gap—growing from 8,809 to more than 17,600 by 2027 (3). This expansion will directly benefit millions by bringing critical services closer to underserved communities (4).

1.2 Training and Deployment of Health Workers

To tackle the shortage of skilled health professionals, the administration has pledged to train 120,000 health workers over a span of 16 months. By October 2024, 40,240 workers—including doctors, nurses, and midwives—will have completed their training. A revamped community health program is set to create an additional 126,000 jobs for health workers, ensuring broader coverage and better service delivery (6).

1.3 National Health Workforce Policy

Approved in August 2024, this policy represents a significant effort to retain medical talent in Nigeria and to bring back professionals from the diaspora into the national healthcare system (7). With more than 12,000 healthcare workers leaving the country each year, this policy aims to combat brain drain by improving working conditions and providing incentives to keep professionals in Nigeria (1).

1.4 Healthcare Expansion Programme

The Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority (NSIA) launched the Healthcare Expansion Programme in October 2024, aimed at enhancing healthcare infrastructure and providing retraining for professionals. This initiative seeks to ensure that advanced healthcare services are accessible across the country, promoting equitable access for both rural and urban communities. (1).

1.5 Executive Order on Healthcare Manufacturing

Signed in June 2024 and coming into effect in October 2024, this executive order removes tariffs, VAT, and excise duties on the machinery and raw materials necessary for the production of pharmaceuticals and medical devices. This action lowers production costs, encourages local manufacturing, and reduces Nigeria’s dependence on costly imports. Consequently, more than 30% of the new pharmaceutical companies established in 2024 credited their growth to this initiative. (1)

1.6  Impact in Numbers

·       17,600 PHCs: The target number by 2027, which is nearly double the current count. (1)

·       120,000 health workers: Aiming to be trained, with 40,240 already having undergone retraining. (1)

·       126,000 jobs: Anticipated under the revamped community health worker program. (1)

·       30% growth: In new pharmaceutical companies as a result of the manufacturing reforms. (1)

President Tinubu’s extensive healthcare reforms highlight his dedication to enhancing the well-being of Nigerians. By tackling systemic issues, building local capacity, and broadening services, these initiatives create a solid foundation for a healthier and more resilient Nigeria (1).

Together, these reforms signal a promising future for healthcare in Nigeria (1).

References

1.       Transformative Development Solutions. (2024). Executive order on healthcare sector reforms: Blog. Retrieved from the document provided.

2.       Federal Ministry of Health. (2024). Nigerian Health Policy Reform Update. Abuja, Nigeria: Government Press.

3.       World Health Organization. (2023). Workforce Retention Strategies in Developing Nations. Geneva: WHO Publications.

4.       Nigeria Sovereign Investment Authority. (2024). Annual Report on Healthcare Investments. Lagos: NSIA.

5.       United Nations Development Programme. (2023). Enhancing Healthcare Access in Africa. New York: UNDP.

6.       Global Health Initiative. (2023). Report on Tariff Reforms for Local Healthcare Manufacturing. London: GHI.

7.       Tinubu Administration Reforms. (2024). Healthcare Sector Progress Report. Abuja: Presidency Press.

Sociocapital Launches Milestone Health Systems & Capacity Strengthening Project in Nasarawa State

Sociocapital, in partnership with the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, has launched a significant Health Systems & Capacity Strengthening Project to enhance healthcare infrastructure and management in Nasarawa State. Funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and TAConnect, this 18-month initiative aims to improve healthcare delivery through strategic capacity building, enhanced monitoring, and evaluation systems. The project is a key step towards improving the quality of healthcare services across the state.

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Sociocapital Inaugural Launch of a Milestone Health Systems & Capacity Strengthening Project in Nasarawa State

The inaugural meeting of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Health Systems & Capacity Strengthening Project flagged off by the Executive Secretary of the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency marks a significant milestone in efforts to enhance healthcare infrastructure and capacity in the state. The project is a collaborative effort funded by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and Technical Advice Connect LTD/GTE (TAConnect), with Sociocapital partnering with the Nasarawa State Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NSPHCDA) to catalyze positive change and improve healthcare outcomes for communities across Nasarawa.
Nasarawa State has identified significant challenges in its healthcare infrastructure and capacity, impacting the delivery and quality of healthcare services. There is an urgent need to enhance healthcare management, improve monitoring and evaluation systems, and elevate the overall quality of healthcare services across the state.
The Health Systems & Capacity Strengthening Project aims to address these challenges by implementing a strategic framework to improve healthcare delivery. The project focuses on building healthcare management capacity, enhancing monitoring and evaluation systems, and supporting the provision of high-quality healthcare services.
Tasked with resource mobilization, capacity building program supervision, and knowledge sharing, with an 18-month timeline to deliver tangible results, the expected outcomes would entail improved healthcare management, enhanced monitoring and evaluation and elevated quality of services.
Continued engagement and teamwork are critical to navigating challenges and achieving the project’s objectives, thereby making a lasting impact on Nasarawa’s healthcare sector. Follow us to stay informed on our learnings and progress or visit: https://sociocapital.org/globalhealth to learn more about our work.

landscape shot of African guy and a lady with face mask-market scene in Africa. Kwame Amo/Shutterstock

Impact Investing in the Post-COVID-19 Era: Emerging Opportunities for Businesses in Nigeria

The COVID-19 pandemic resulted in an additional 97 million people living in poverty in 2020, causing a setback in the goal of ending poverty by 2030.  Nigeria, among other countries with low human development, has a low Human Development Index (HDI) due to poor social infrastructure, high-income inequality, institutional corruption, and other development challenges.

The pandemic has added further stress to Nigeria’s budget and economy, exerting additional pressure on the low foreign reserves and poor debt profile of the country resulting in a drop in Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) flows. The fall in FDI inflow could lead to financial instability, weaker infrastructure, a drop in the standard of living, and increase unemployment. The Covid-19 pandemic created a crisis where market volatility intensified and the stock market fell. These have had negative impacts on Nigeria’s economic activities and caused increased uncertainty among investors and adjustment of economic anticipation resulting in high prices of goods and services and services.

As countries recover from the COVID-19 outbreak, Nigeria needs to explore innovative financing mechanisms to accelerate growth, development, access to jobs, improve livelihood, as well as improve its HDI. There is a lot to do about how donors, philanthropists, development finance institutions, and governments mobilize funding to address the issues of social needs and increase the inflow of investments in Nigeria, using mission-focused investing that delivers social and financial returns.

Men load sacks of rice among other food aid in a truck, to be distributed for those affected by procedures taken to curb the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), in Abuja, Nigeria, on April 17, 2020. Afolabi Sotunde/Reuters

From Pandemic to Prosperity: Mobilizing Private Sector Response Against COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic undoubtedly brought the world to its knees, causing severe economic downturns, job losses, and imposing social restrictions on people. Nigeria, like other nations, had not been spared from the pandemic’s harsh realities, which put a strain on its healthcare system and economy.

Amidst the chaos, the Private Sector Coalition Against COVID-19 (CACOVID) initiative emerged as a shining light of hope, providing much-needed support and relief to vulnerable households and communities and bolstering the healthcare system’s response to the pandemic. The initiative brought together private sector individuals, CEOs, and organizations, backed by prominent Nigerian banks, oil and gas players, and financial investment institutions.

CACOVID’s mandate was clear; to raise funds and provide relief materials to support the Presidential Task Force’s efforts to control the spread of the virus, offer aid to the most vulnerable, and provide the public with critical information on safety measures to adhere to. This coalition’s impact was remarkable as it harnessed resources from various sectors in addressing the pandemic’s impact on the country.

The significance of businesses with clear missions and purposes cannot be overstated, as they can leverage their philanthropic efforts to create social and economic benefits. CACOVID, a private sector initiative that mobilized an all-inclusive collaborative response to the COVID-19 pandemic, is an excellent example of this. With sustained support for such initiatives, Nigeria could potentially experience increased prosperity.