The Lagos state government has unveiled a multi-year advocacy project aimed at strengthening primary healthcare (PHC) and enhancing maternal, newborn, child, and adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N).
The initiative, titled “Advocacy Solutions to Improve PHC and RMNCAH Delivery and Health Outcomes,” is funded by the Gates Foundation and will be co-implemented by global reproductive health organization EngenderHealth.
It will run through April 2028, focusing on policy reform, gender-sensitive programming, accountability, and expanded access to quality care.
Unveiled at an event held at Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, the project was described as a strategic intervention aligned with Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu’s THEMES+ agenda on healthcare transformation.
Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi said,
“This is not just a ceremonial launch; it is a call to action. Our goal is simple: to ensure every mother, child, adolescent, and family in Lagos has access to quality, affordable healthcare with positive outcomes.”
Dr. Ogunyemi emphasized that while Lagos has made progress in health service delivery, the new initiative will help consolidate gains and close existing gaps, particularly in underserved communities.
EngenderHealth’s Country Director, Dr. Kabiru Atta, said the advocacy-driven project will prioritize equity, nutrition, and sustainability.
“We are co-creating solutions with the government and stakeholders to ensure state ownership and long-term continuity beyond 2028,” he said.
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According to Dr. Atta, key focus areas include improved health budgeting, policy accountability, and ensuring nutrition for children during the critical first 1,000 days of life.
The Gates Foundation’s State Consultant, Mr. Olakunle Daramola, lauded Lagos for its leadership in health reform.
“Nigeria is critical to Africa’s success, and Lagos, as a leading state, is showing what is possible through innovation and collaboration,” he said, pledging continued support for equity-focused healthcare initiatives.
Stakeholders at the launch, ranging from health officials to civil society leaders, voiced strong support for the project’s mission.
Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, acknowledged Lagos’s relatively strong health indicators but warned that “more needs to be done to reach the standard expected of a subnational like Lagos.”
He praised the high-level political will backing the initiative and called for increased community and religious stakeholder engagement.
Permanent Secretary of Lagos Health District VI, Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, highlighted the importance of shared responsibility, while Co-Chair of the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism (LASAM), Mr. Laundry Sagbo, emphasized that strengthening PHC is one of the most cost-effective routes to achieving Universal Health Coverage.
The event also saw representatives from the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), Clinton Health Access Initiative, and Pathfinder reaffirm their commitment to reducing preventable deaths among women and children under five.
The Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA) Mrs. Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro, echoed the sentiment, noting that the agency is “always delighted to participate in initiatives that expand access and improve quality in healthcare.”
As the state moves forward with this ambitious advocacy project, stakeholders expressed optimism that the partnership would deliver measurable, lasting impact on health outcomes for Lagos’s growing population.