… Projects Funded by Gates Foundation, to Run till 2028
… EngenderHealth to Co-Implement Initiative Targeting RMNCAH+N
In a major stride toward improving health outcomes in Lagos, the State Government and EngenderHealth, a global reproductive health organisation, on Monday officially launched an advocacy project aimed at enhancing Primary Healthcare (PHC) delivery and boosting maternal, newborn, child, adolescent health and nutrition (RMNCAH+N) across the state. The project, titled “Advocacy Solutions to Improve PHC and RMNCAH Delivery and Health Outcomes,” is a collaborative initiative led by EngenderHealth with funding from the Gates Foundation and the Lagos State Ministry of Health, supported by key health partners. Speaking at the launch, held at the Sheraton Hotel, Ikeja, the Special Adviser to the Lagos State Governor on Health, Dr. (Mrs.) Kemi Ogunyemi described the project as a timely intervention that would consolidate existing gains in health care delivery and further support the THEMES Plus health transformation agenda of the current administration. “This project comes at a time when the need to consolidate and expand gains in PHC and RMNCAH+N service delivery is more urgent than ever,” Dr. Ogunyemi said. “Our goal is simple: to ensure every mother, child, adolescent, and family in Lagos has access to quality, affordable healthcare with positive outcomes.” The Special Adviser noted that while Lagos has made remarkable progress, more needs to be done, adding that the partnership with EngenderHealth and the Gates Foundation would help identify and strengthen gaps in the system. “We are in it together - to strengthen what we already have. Mr. Governor has demonstrated unwavering commitment through the THEMES Plus agenda,” she added. She emphasised that the project is focused not on starting from scratch but building upon existing systems with innovative advocacy tools, equity-focused interventions, and community engagement to drive impact. “This is not just a ceremonial launch; it is a call to action,” she stressed. Country Director of EngenderHealth, Dr. Kabiru Atta, in his project presentation, said the initiative will be implemented over a period of three and a half years from October 2024 to April 2028, and will focus on policy advocacy, gender-sensitive reforms, and accountability frameworks. “The project will help the Lagos government prioritise pro-health RMNCAH and PHC agendas, strengthen gender-responsive health policies, and increase budgetary support for these critical areas,” Dr. Atta stated. “It’s also about ensuring every child receives proper nutrition, especially within the critical first 1,000 days of life.” According to him, the project will use key metrics such as government health spending, workforce capacity, and policy accountability to measure progress. He emphasised that the long-term impact of improved nutrition and PHC delivery will be seen in better developmental outcomes for Lagos’s future generations. Dr. Atta also highlighted sustainability as a core project principle. “From day one, we are co-creating with the government and stakeholders to ensure state ownership and long-term continuity beyond 2028,” he noted. Representing the Gates Foundation, State Consultant Mr. Olakunle Daramola, lauded the Lagos State Government for its leadership in health reforms and commended the Ministry of Health for collaborating with over 20 Gates-funded partner programmes across the state. “This project is a landmark step. The Foundation remains deeply committed to maternal, newborn, and child health, and Lagos continues to be a strategic partner in this vision,” Daramola said. “Nigeria is critical to Africa’s success, and Lagos, as a leading state, is showing what is possible through innovation and collaboration.” Daramola described the advocacy project as a vital component of the Foundation’s strategic pillars, pledging continuous support for programmes that prioritise equity, access, and accountability in healthcare delivery. The launch brought together stakeholders from government, development agencies, and civil society who reinforced commitments to reducing maternal and child mortality and improving primary healthcare systems across the state. In his remarks, the Permanent Secretary of the Lagos State Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ibrahim Mustafa, underscored the urgency of addressing maternal and child health outcomes despite relatively better statistics in Lagos compared to other parts of the country. He emphasised that while progress had been made, there is still a considerable journey ahead to attain the standards expected of a subnational entity like Lagos. Dr. Mustafa acknowledged the presence of the Special Adviser to the Governor, whom he noted as a testament to the high-level political will behind the initiative. He commended the consortium of partners, including Engender Health, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and Pathfinder, for their continued support, noting the significance of community and religious stakeholder involvement in driving impactful change. “Let us remain inspired and motivated to champion solutions that will positively impact lives and communities,” he stated, urging participants to make the launch a memorable and action-driven milestone. Speaking in the same vein, the Permanent Secretary, Lagos Health District VI, Dr. Abimbola Mabogunje, acknowledged the collective efforts required to tackle the challenges in RMNCAH and primary health care delivery. She expressed gratitude to all partners and encouraged continued collaboration to strengthen services in primary health centres and ultimately improve health outcomes. Dr. Mabogunje highlighted that although Lagos is recognised for its efforts, the reward for hard work is more work. She stressed the importance of shared responsibility and thanked the Gates Foundation and other development partners for their unwavering support. “May our collaboration continue to flourish as we work to move the state forward,” she concluded. Co-Chair of the Lagos State Accountability Mechanism (LASAM) for RMNCAH, Mr. Laundry Sagbo, reaffirmed LASAM’s commitment to advancing evidence-based and strategic advocacy. He emphasised that strengthening primary healthcare remains one of the most cost-effective pathways to achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and that pairing this with robust RMNCAH interventions would be transformative. He recounted LASAM’s contributions over the years, including budget tracking, promoting the availability of life-saving commodities, and deploying community-led scorecards. Sagbo lauded the project as the right platform to drive accountability and expressed optimism that the initiative would improve coordination, reinforce LASAM’s work, and yield measurable health outcomes across the state. Representing the Engender Health-led consortium, Mr. Yemi Abodunrin, Director of Programmes at the Centre for Communication and Social Impact (CCSI), extended appreciation to the Lagos State Government for its warm reception and readiness to partner. He stated that while Lagos had made commendable progress in maternal mortality reduction, the state could do even better. Abodunrin affirmed the consortium’s commitment to working with Lagos to reduce preventable deaths among women and children under five. “We are delighted to be here in the Centre of Excellence and believe that together, we can achieve lasting impact in health outcomes across the state,” he noted. Also speaking on behalf of the Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA), the Head of Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation of the Agency, Mrs. Adetoro Tayo-Adetoro emphasised the agency’s mandate to ensure access to equitable and quality healthcare. She expressed strong alignment with the project’s goals and highlighted the importance of co-creating solutions to improve service delivery. “LASHMA is always delighted to participate in any initiative that focuses on expanding access and quality in health,” she stated. Tayo-Adetoro affirmed the agency’s readiness to support the implementation of the project and expressed hope for a transformative impact on the health of Lagos residents.
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