PharmAccess Backs Africa’s Quests To Advancing Accessible, Quality Healthcare

PharmAccess has supported the HealthCare Leadership Conference organized by the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria in partnership with the Medic West Africa.

The Conference which held on on Tuesday, 26th of September 2023, was themed “Igniting Change: Mobilizing Healthcare in West Africa for a Sustainable Future,”

The conference served as a platform for engaging discussions and meaningful collaborations among healthcare stakeholders.

PharmAccess, renowned for its commitment to advancing healthcare access and quality, played an integral role in shaping the discussions.

The conference witnessed engaging sessions, informative presentations, and lively dialogues on key topics such as innovation, an enabling environment for healthcare advancement in West Africa, and the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage.

Among the notable attendees were the Special Adviser to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas; Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi; Commissioner for Health, Ogun State, Dr. Tomi Coker; Commissioner of Health, Imo State, Dr. Success Prosper-Ohayagha; Commissioner for Health, Osun State, Mr. Jola Akintola, ESQ; Commissioner for Health, Ondo State, Dr. Banji Ajaka; Commissioner for Health, Edo State, Dr. Samuel Ali; President of the HFN, Dr. Pamela Ajayi; West African Director of the African Healthcare Federation, Dr. Joseph Boguifo; Vice President HFN and Country Director, Pharmaccess, Mrs. Njide Ndili among others.

In his welcome address, Dr. Salma Anas, the Special Adviser to the President of Nigeria on Health, captivated the audience with her keynote address.

She emphasized President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to exploring local vaccine and medicine production to enhance the health sector’s self-sufficiency.

Dr. Anas also shared the President’s vision for a sustainable healthcare future in Nigeria and the entire West Africa. “President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s commitment to exploring local vaccine and medicine production is unwavering.

It’s a key step toward enhancing self-sufficiency in the health sector and securing a healthier future for our nation. We are dedicated to ensuring that every Nigerian has access to quality healthcare.”

Having played a pivotal role in policy formulation, strategic development, and resource mobilization for healthcare programs, she extended her heartfelt appreciation to the HFN for organizing this forum, enabling healthcare stakeholders in Nigeria to brainstorm on ways to bring about positive change in the nation’s health sector.

Also, during his keynote remarks, Prof. Akin Abayomi, Lagos State Commissioner for Health, highlighted the importance of public-private partnerships, underscoring HFN’s critical role in bridging the gap between the government and the private sector.

In her opening address, Dr. Pamela Ajayi, President of the HFN, extended a warm welcome to stakeholders from across the nation, reiterating the HFN’s commitment to being the voice of private sector healthcare stakeholders and their dedication to transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. “We extend a warm welcome to stakeholders from across the nation. The HFN is committed to being the voice of private sector healthcare stakeholders, and we are dedicated to transforming Nigeria’s healthcare landscape. Our collaboration with organizations like PharmAccess is vital in achieving this transformative vision.”

Representing PharmAccess, PharmAccess Nigeria Country Director, Njide Ndili who is also the Vice President of the Healthcare Federation of Nigeria moderated the first panel session on the concept of Public-Private Integration and ways it can be achieved and sustained to ensure progression of the Nigerian healthcare sector. She highlighted that without Public Private Integration, the goal of Universal Health coverage cannot be achieved. “Without Public-Private Integration, the goal of Universal Health Coverage cannot be achieved. We can ensure that healthcare reaches every corner of our nation, leaving no one underserved.”

Additionally, Mrs. Ndili enjoined panelists to share their experiences within the healthcare industry, particularly regarding the integration of public and private sectors and the strategies for its sustained advancement within the Nigerian healthcare sector. One notable illustration of a progressive Public-Private Partnership (PPP) initiative, highlighted by Deputy Managing Director at the Society for Family Health, Dr. Jennifer Anyanti, is the “Access to Finance (A2F)” program, championed by PharmAccess and the Delta State Contributory Health Commission (DSCHC). This innovative program was crafted to provide financing, operational expertise, and transfer of public-private partnership arrangements, rejuvenating neglected healthcare facilities in remote and underserved communities in Delta State. Dr. Anyanti stated, “Thanks to our fruitful Public-Private partnership with PharmAccess and the Delta State Contributory Healthcare Commission, we have achieved a renaissance in healthcare facilities within marginalized regions. This has translated into remarkable outcomes, including a surge in patient enrollment, the elimination of maternal mortality, and a substantial enhancement in child survival rates.”

Other presentations were held at the conference, with a particular focus on topics such as Innovation across Africa, fostering a conducive environment for thriving in West Africa, and the pursuit of Universal Health Coverage. PharmAccess upholds its unwavering commitment to advancing healthcare outcomes throughout sub-Saharan Africa. Events like the HFN HealthCare Leadership Conference exemplify PharmAccess’ role as thought leaders and catalysts for positive change. They continue to champion the cause, driving the transformation of Nigeria’s healthcare landscape towards a more sustainable future.

PharmAccess is an international not-for-profit organization established in 2001 that operates in Africa, pioneering digital innovative approaches to strengthen the healthcare sector. Its goal is to improve access to quality healthcare, especially for low-income groups.