The Federal Capital Territory Primary Health Care system has emerged as one of the best in the federation at the second edition of the Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge Gala/ Awards ceremony held in Abuja.
A statement from Bola Ajao, the Senior Special Assistant to the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health and Environment Secretariat, Adedalapo Fasawe, noted that the FCT emerged as the runner-up for “Best Performing and Most Improved State” with a cash incentive of $400,000 in recognition of its implemented innovations and outstanding performance in strengthening PHC system in the territory in line with Universal Health Coverage among other states in the year 2024.
Meanwhile, 14 awards were presented in total—one per geo-political zone and one national award. Along with FCT, other states that shined at the ceremony were Gombe state, which won “Best Implemented Innovation,” and Anambra, which got the “Overall Best Performance” award for the 2024 edition.
This year’s edition, chaired by Vice President Sen. Kashim Shettima, was represented by a former Minister of FCT, Alh. Aliyu Madibbo.
The PHC Leadership Challenge award was launched in 2022 by the Nigeria Governors Forum as a commitment to strengthening and improving the PHC system across the country and to appraise state performance. The first award edition kicked off in 2023.
In response to this remarkable feat, Fasawe said, “This award underscores the strategic leadership of the FCT Minister in investing in healthcare and the credible services carried out daily in PHC centres across the territory, with more to come.”
Fasawe noted that the FCT healthcare system promotes and utilises the Basic Health Care Provision Fund adequately yields significant improvements in antenatal coverage, an increased proportion of women who are using modern contraceptive methods, an increased rate of women delivery with skilled birth attendants through various approaches targeted at creating awareness and educating vulnerable women on the importance of accessing quality healthcare system within their proximity.
Fasawe, while appreciating the entire management and staff team of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, and other stakeholders called for more action by putting in more work to ensure that the commitment to strengthen and improve the PHC systems in Nigeria is fully actualised.
At the ceremony, the HSE Secretariat was represented by the Acting Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, Ruqqaya Wamako in the company of the Director, FCT Health Insurance Scheme, Dr Salamatu Belgore, who received the award on behalf of the Secretariat.
The statement added that the Chairman of the NGF and Governor of Kwara state, AbdulRahaman AbdulRazaq, who was represented by the Governor of Anambra state, Prof Charles Soludo; and the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof Muhammad Pate were present at the award ceremony.