Edo emerges 2nd, wins ₦184mn at NGF leadership challenge for PHCs

Edo state has emerged as the runner-up, (South-South region) in the Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge Fund, a flagship programme of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF).

The programme is aimed to revamp the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy in the country by maximising the commitment of state governors to promoting a progressive increase in PHC funding, and ensuring all primary healthcare centres have the requisite human resource capacity.

Edo clinched the sum of N184 million cash prize for coming second in the challenge.

The State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki and the immediate past Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akoria Obehi, led the delegation from the Edo State Ministry of Health to the very colorful event held at Presidential Villa, in Abuja.

Reacting to the honour, Governor Obaseki said the achievement is a testament to the transformative reforms implemented by his administration in the health sector over the past six years.

According to him, “Our primary goal has always been to improve healthcare delivery and ensure that every citizen has access to quality primary healthcare services.

“For us, this is not just a recognition of our achievements but an affirmation of our resolve to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence in healthcare delivery. It reinforces our determination to sustain the momentum we have built and further improve the well-being of our people.

“We will continue to invest in infrastructure, human resources, and cutting-edge technologies that will strengthen our primary healthcare system and make it more responsive to the needs of our communities.”

Also speaking, the immediate past Commissioner for Health in the state, Prof. Akoria Obehi, said the Challenge provided a fine platform to showcase the outstanding progress made by the Governor Obaseki-led administration in promoting primary healthcare and ensuring that every Edo citizen has access to quality care.

In her remark, the Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, noted that the award was in recognition of the exceptional leadership shown by the governors in investing significantly in Primary Health Care, thereby positively transforming the lives of women, girls, and children in their respective states.