Young Nigerians Tackle Primary Healthcare Gaps Across Communities

Young Nigerians are taking on some of the challenges confronting primary healthcare facilities across the country, with community-level interventions targeting unreliable electricity, inadequate medical equipment, disease prevention and limited access to essential health services.

The interventions implemented by participants in the National Health Fellows Programme (NHF) range from efforts to improve vaccine storage and upgrade laboratories to community health education, tuberculosis referrals, and screening for non-communicable diseases.

Established by the Federal Government in 2025, the 12-month programme combines training, mentorship and practical experience to equip young Nigerians to identify health challenges in their communities and develop locally relevant responses.

Dr Ashiru Adamu Abubakar, Technical Assistant to the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare on Sector-wide Approach, said the Fellows were applying their training to address public health challenges.

He said the interventions covered improvements to primary healthcare facilities, disease prevention and health awareness, adding that the government remained committed to supporting young people in developing solutions to healthcare challenges.

One of the participants, Abubakar Hamza, said the fellowship had strengthened his skills in leadership, teamwork, stakeholder engagement, community mobilisation, data management and problem-solving.

“During the National Health Fellows Programme, I learned valuable lessons in leadership, teamwork, stakeholder engagement, community mobilisation, data management, and problem-solving skills, while developing practical solutions to improve healthcare delivery,” he said.

The Fellows are supporting community-level interventions to strengthen primary healthcare delivery across several states.

Their projects include providing solar power for healthcare facilities and vaccine storage, upgrading laboratory services, supplying essential medical equipment, improving access to safe water, preventing cholera, strengthening tuberculosis referrals and promoting screening for non-communicable diseases.

Areas of intervention include solar-powered vaccine storage in Gboko, Borno State, and solar power provision in Idumuje-Unor, Delta State; primary healthcare improvement and medical equipment provision in Iyame, Ondo State; laboratory upgrades in Op Base, Okoroete and Iko Town, Akwa Ibom State.

Others are waiting shelters and solar streetlights in Oke-Agogo, Oyo State; safe water and cholera prevention in Goniri, Borno State; tuberculosis referrals in Jos South, Plateau State; and screening for non-communicable diseases in Essien Udim, Akwa Ibom State.