Health Reforms: Quick Wins With The National Health Fellows’ Programme

President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda has dedicated a lot of energy towards the implementation of the health sector renewal investment initiative; which seeks to transform the health sector from a consumption model to one that provides jobs and strengthens domestic manufacturing.

A lot has been done to stimulate the manufacturing of pharmaceuticals, medical textiles, test kits, and other consumables. As part of these reforms, the coordinating minister of health and social welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, recently announced the approval of Mr. President, to launch the National Health Fellows Programme. This will see to the massive recruitment of health fellows who will drive some of the health sector reforms.

This programme is targeting young Nigerians from all local government areas in the country. Already, over 120,000 frontline health workers are being trained to consolidate on the service delivery of healthcare employees across the country.

Prof. Pate, in a recent broadcast, called on interested candidates from the country’s youth population, whom he referred to as the most dynamic on earth, to apply for this programme through the designated portal, (www.healthfellows.ng). He stressed that the tailored programme would develop a pipeline of healthcare leaders through strategic capacity building, professional development, and a capstone field engagement for these fellows. He called on them to be powerful catalysts of the change that is collectively being sought in the health sector.

This is coming on the heels of the launch of the Global Aviator Network on Maternal Health (GAN). Prof. Pate on behalf of the Nigerian government, signed an agreement with the World Economic Forum (WEF’s) managing director, Mr. Jeremy Jurgens. This agreement will see to a collaboration between the Nigerian health ministry and WEF’s Global Alliance for Women’s Health, as another significant step in improving maternal health outcomes in Nigeria.

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Prof. Pate was called upon to join the Global Alliance for Women’s Health as a board member along with other remarkable individuals, committed to bridging the gap in women’s healthcare. A workshop has been scheduled to serve as a launchpad for the impactful solutions that the partnership envisages. The Alliance will harness existing strengths, address persistent challenges, and leverage global expertise to catalyse the needed progress in maternal health in the country.

GAN will share and replicate successful maternal health interventions and strengthen local ecosystems and partnerships to support sustained improvements. It also seeks to provide equitable access to improving maternal health outcomes. It will also foster country-to-country learning through exchange of ideas, knowledge and best practices among partner countries.

Do recall that on November 7, 2024; Prof. Pate had announced that the federal government would be providing free emergency C-section for poor and vulnerable women. This was announced at the launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, during the Nigeria health-sectorwide joint annual review. Pate declared that “no woman should lose her life simply because she can’t afford a C-section”. The minister said C-section for all Nigerian women who need them would be free. It will be available for poor and vulnerable women who meet eligibility criteria, covering services provided through both public and private facilities empanelled by the National Health Insurance Authority.

Prof. Pate is rigorously pursuing the rebuild of our healthcare system to be equitable, effective and efficient. The National Healthcare Act of 2014 had remained largely unimplemented until 2023. It is now being reignited, breathing life to its ideals with the swift execution of policies and programmes. He enthuses that the ministry is moving from 90 percent planning to 90 percent action and realtime feedback. As an indigene of Bauchi State, I am more than enthusiastic that equitable healthcare would be more accessible to all nooks and crannies, driven by a son of our soil.

Pate started with attracting $3 billion in investments and grants from development partners and global health institutions to develop Nigeria’s healthcare value chain. From then on, he has not relented in delivering Mr. President’s healthcare agenda. I believe Bauchi State and the entire nation are indeed proud of Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. In Mr. President’s maiden media chat, he commended Prof. Pate for the deliverables so far in the health sector. Health is wealth. May Allah grant it to us all.