Dr. Salma Anas-Ibrahim, the Special Adviser to the President on Health, shared this information during the joint World Health Organisation stakeholders' feedback workshop.

The workshop focused on evaluating the third WHO-Nigeria country cooperation strategy (2018-2022) and developing the fourth WHO-Nigeria cooperation strategy (2023-2027).

Dr. Anas-Ibrahim emphasized that the present administration, led by President Bola Tinubu, aims to achieve health for all through an efficient and effective Universal Health Coverage system.

The administration's health sector agenda, titled "Healthcare: A matter of right and urgency" under the APC's 'Renewed Hope' mantra, includes an action plan for a better Nigeria.

The healthcare reforms policy agenda will align with the existing national health plan, focusing on governance and leadership, health financing, human resources, service delivery, primary healthcare, and partnership with non-governmental organizations which aims to address challenges such as inadequate healthcare infrastructure, workforce burden, poor insurance coverage, high maternal mortality, and dependence on imported medical supplies.

The plan includes establishing a responsive and accountable governance and leadership structure for the health sector, improving health financing through increased budgetary allocations, and expanding national health insurance coverage.

Dr. Walter Mulombo, the WHO Representative, highlighted the significance of the CCS review during a political transition in Nigeria. He emphasized the potential for policy changes and transformations, considering the opportunities presented by the COVID-19 pandemic, primary healthcare reimagining program, National Health Insurance Authority Act, and Presidential Health Reform Programme.

Mulombo said, “As the development of a new CCS usually follows a robust consultative process, we have engaged with your good selves over the past few months, trying to understand what we have done well, the areas we have not done well, and pointers to the priorities in the coming five years.

“One key recurring challenge thrown at WHO during this ongoing review is the need for WHO to be more innovative and agile to adopt a stronger coordination role as the leading authority in health in support of the country and other partners.”