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By Tracy Moses
The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday called on Nigeria to prioritise evidence-driven health reforms as the country steps up upgrades to its primary healthcare (PHC) facilities.
Speaking at the National Health Dialogue, held alongside the 2025 Media and Development Conference (MDC) in Abuja, WHO Representative Dr. Pavel Ursu emphasized that “evidence-based policymaking, context-appropriate innovation, and reliable financing” are essential for transforming Nigeria’s health system and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC).
Illustrating the impact of reforms, Dr. Ursu shared the story of a young mother in a rural community now able to track her newborn’s vaccinations digitally, a service that was previously hindered by distance, paperwork, and limited information. “With digital tracking and upgraded facilities, she can ensure her child receives all vaccines on time,” he said, demonstrating how policy changes are translating into tangible benefits for Nigerians.
Ursu stressed that accurate data, scalable digital tools, and predictable financing are critical for improving community-level healthcare, strengthening maternal and child health, and ensuring public health preparedness. “No health system can thrive without sustainable financing. Investment in health is not an expense; it is a driver of national development,” he added, pledging WHO’s continued technical support to Nigeria’s health reforms.
Muyi Aina, Executive Director of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), highlighted progress in PHC upgrades nationwide. Over 2,125 facilities have been modernized, driving nearly 47 million service-delivery contacts each quarter, almost double the figure from two years ago. Digitisation has improved transparency and efficiency, reduced fraud, and enabled direct funding to facilities, while e-learning platforms have trained thousands of frontline workers and digital maternal and newborn tools have improved pregnancy and postnatal care.
Despite these gains, Aina noted persistent challenges, including staff shortages, uneven distribution of health personnel, and varying PHC functionality across states. Speakers at the Dialogue emphasized that predictable financing underpins a strong health system, and that citizens must be able to track the use of public funds and monitor improvements in service delivery. Civil society participants also highlighted the crucial role of journalists in promoting transparency and accountability in health governance.
The MDC 2025 conference, which runs from November 24–27, also spotlighted Africa’s broader challenges and opportunities in democracy, development, and digital governance. CJID Chief Executive Officer and Publisher of PREMIUM TIMES, Mr. Dapo Olorunyomi, delivered the keynote address, describing the continent as being at a “moment of profound transformation” requiring institutional courage and renewed civic responsibility. He warned of rising civic anxieties, shrinking democratic spaces, and the resurgence of coups, while highlighting opportunities for renewal. Olorunyomi described independent media as the “oxygen of democracy” and called for innovative business models, ethical AI use, and investment in a new generation of journalists. He also cautioned against “data colonialism,” urging African governments to secure sovereign data, strengthen digital rights, and coordinate regional AI governance.
As Nigeria advances its health-system renewal, Ursu observed that the coming years will be critical for consolidating progress. He reaffirmed WHO’s support for expanding immunisation, strengthening PHC governance, improving maternal and child health, and enhancing public health preparedness, while praising the leadership of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. He called for strengthened collaboration among government institutions, civil society, development partners, and the private sector.
The conference continues with high-level panels, investigative dialogues, research presentations, and training sessions designed to reinforce policymaking, accountability, and evidence-based storytelling across Africa.