DIPLOMAN TIMES

While highlighting the progress already achieved, the administration acknowledged that important challenges remain in strengthening the state's primary healthcare system. Government identified workforce shortages, sustainable healthcare financing, infrastructure upgrades and broader community participation as priority areas requiring continued policy attention and investment. The Commissioner reiterated that the administration remains committed to bridging these gaps through sustained reforms and strategic investments designed to improve health outcomes across Edo State.

The Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ESPHCDA), Dr. Coulson Osoikhai, stated that the Agency, working closely with development partners, had implemented deliberate interventions to strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly for women and children, while calling for sustained stakeholder collaboration to ensure universal access to quality healthcare services. The Chairman of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Board, Dr. Odiase Ehiabhi, reaffirmed the Board's commitment to advancing the Governor's SHINE Agenda through improved primary healthcare delivery. Representatives of the World Bank IMPACT Project commended Edo State's sustained investments in healthcare reforms, revitalisation of primary healthcare facilities, expanded immunisation coverage, improved maternal healthcare services and strengthened availability of essential medicines, while reaffirming continued collaboration with the State Government. The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), Edo State Chapter, Hon. Sunday Ekpetika Akiotu, also reaffirmed the critical role of local governments in achieving Universal Health Coverage through grassroots healthcare planning, implementation and community engagement.

A major highlight of the summit was the recognition of outstanding local government councils for excellence in primary healthcare performance. Etsako Central Local Government Area emerged as the overall best-performing council, while Akoko-Edo and Owan East Local Government Areas were recognised as second and third respectively for their contributions to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and improving health outcomes within their communities. The summit concluded with a renewed commitment by the Edo State Government, local government councils, development partners and healthcare stakeholders to deepen collaboration, strengthen primary healthcare systems and accelerate progress towards achieving Universal Health Coverage throughout Edo State.

The Edo State Government's renewed commitment to strengthening primary healthcare demonstrates that the administration continues to position Primary Health Care (PHC) as the cornerstone of health sector reform and the principal pathway towards achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC). Rather than concentrating healthcare investments primarily on secondary and tertiary institutions, the Government is prioritising the level of care that serves as the first point of contact for the majority of residents. This policy orientation is particularly significant because effective primary healthcare systems improve disease prevention, reduce pressure on referral hospitals and enhance overall health system efficiency.

The administration's continued investment in modern health infrastructure, workforce expansion, disease surveillance, digital health technologies and evidence-based planning reflects an integrated approach to health system strengthening. These complementary investments address multiple components of healthcare delivery simultaneously, recognising that sustainable improvements in health outcomes require not only physical infrastructure but also qualified personnel, effective information systems, timely disease detection and data-driven policy implementation. Such a comprehensive reform agenda strengthens the institutional capacity of the healthcare system while improving accessibility and quality of services for residents across both urban and rural communities.

Government's emphasis on maternal and child healthcare, routine immunisation, communicable disease prevention and early disease outbreak detection highlights the preventive role of primary healthcare within the broader public health framework. Preventive interventions generally produce greater long-term social and economic benefits than reactive treatment by reducing avoidable illnesses, lowering healthcare costs and improving productivity across communities. By strengthening these frontline services, the administration seeks to improve population health while reducing the burden on higher levels of healthcare delivery.

The Government's acknowledgement of remaining challenges - including workforce shortages, infrastructure deficits, sustainable healthcare financing and the need for stronger community participation - demonstrates a realistic assessment of implementation requirements rather than presenting healthcare reform as already completed. Identifying these constraints publicly provides greater policy clarity and reinforces the administration's commitment to continuous improvement through sustained investment and institutional reform. This transparency is important because long-term progress towards Universal Health Coverage depends on addressing structural constraints alongside ongoing service expansion.

The broad participation of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (ESPHCDA), local government councils, the World Bank IMPACT Project, development partners and other stakeholders also underscores the collaborative governance model being adopted by the State. Achieving Universal Health Coverage requires coordinated implementation across multiple institutions responsible for financing, infrastructure, workforce development, service delivery and community engagement. The summit therefore served not only as a policy forum but also as a mechanism for reinforcing institutional collaboration and shared accountability among the various actors responsible for strengthening Edo State's primary healthcare system.

The recognition of high-performing local government councils further reinforces the importance of performance-based implementation within the primary healthcare system. By acknowledging outstanding local government contributions to healthcare delivery, immunisation and community health programmes, the administration encourages innovation, healthy institutional competition and continuous service improvement across the state's local health systems. Such recognition also highlights the critical role of local governments in translating state health policies into measurable outcomes at the grassroots level.

Collectively, the executive initiatives presented during the EDO SHINE Primary Health Care Summit reflect a governance strategy that integrates infrastructure development, workforce strengthening, digital innovation, preventive healthcare, institutional collaboration and local government performance into a unified framework for achieving Universal Health Coverage. The reporting period therefore demonstrates an administration focused on building a resilient, inclusive and sustainable primary healthcare system capable of improving long-term health outcomes for residents throughout Edo State.