In what has been described as a landmark step toward strengthening Nigeria’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system, key stakeholders from the Federal and State Governments, the media, and international development partners have united in a renewed call for collaboration, accountability, and evidence-based advocacy to advance the nation’s health outcomes.
By AbdulrahmanAliagan, Abuja, Nigeria
In what has been described as a landmark step toward strengthening Nigeria’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system, key stakeholders from the Federal and State Governments, the media, and international development partners have united in a renewed call for collaboration, accountability, and evidence-based advocacy to advance the nation’s health outcomes.
The High-Level Health Media Dialogue, themed “Strengthening Primary Healthcare: A Collaborative Approach to Reducing Maternal Mortality and Enhancing Child Health in Nigeria,” convened in Abuja and served as a pivotal platform to foster dialogue among health policymakers, media leaders, and development experts.
Organized by the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH) under the Advocacy Solution Project, with implementation support from EngenderHealth and funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the forum underscored the indispensable role of the media in promoting transparency, accountability, and citizen engagement in the nation’s health sector.
The dialogue emphasized that improving Nigeria’s health indices—particularly in maternal and child health—requires more than infrastructure and policy frameworks. It demands a sustained partnership between the state and the media to inform, educate, and empower citizens.
In her opening remarks, Moji Makanjuola, Executive Director of ISMPH and a veteran broadcaster, underscored the transformative power of journalism in shaping public perception and driving policy reform.
Every well-researched documentary, every investigative feature, every community radio dialogue that informs citizens on immunisation, family planning, or antenatal care contributes directly to saving lives,”
— Moji Makanjuola
“Every well-researched documentary, every investigative feature, every community radio dialogue that informs citizens on immunisation, family planning, or antenatal care contributes directly to saving lives,” she stated.
She further urged the media to transcend the boundaries of conventional reportage and to embrace data-driven storytelling that highlights not only the challenges but also the innovations and solutions within the health system.
“The media remains the connective tissue between policy, public perception, and accountability,” she said. “Beyond the headlines, we must promote narratives that inspire reform and sustain national commitment to Universal Health Coverage.”
— Moji Makanjuola
“The media remains the connective tissue between policy, public perception, and accountability,” she said. “Beyond the headlines, we must promote narratives that inspire reform and sustain national commitment to Universal Health Coverage.”
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, reaffirmed the Federal Government’s unwavering dedication to reforming Nigeria’s healthcare architecture through strategic collaboration and public accountability.
According to him, responsible and constructive journalism can serve as a catalyst for positive change within the sector.
“The media can help shape a narrative of possibility and renewal—not just lamentation but constructive reporting can mobilise citizens and leaders alike to rebuild our health system.”
— Muhammad Ali Pate
“The media can help shape a narrative of possibility and renewal—not just lamentation,” the minister remarked. “Constructive reporting can mobilise citizens and leaders alike to rebuild our health system.”
Professor Pate cautioned against corruption and mismanagement at the facility level, describing such practices as critical impediments to national progress. He noted that the government has expanded direct financing for PHC centres across the federation, but stressed that citizens and the media must jointly ensure that these resources reach their intended beneficiaries.
The Executive Governor of Kaduna State, Malam Uba Sani, shared Kaduna’s experience in revitalising its primary healthcare delivery system through innovative financing, improved infrastructure, and community partnerships.
“Our journey in Kaduna demonstrates that meaningful change is achievable when government, citizens, and the media work together, Sustainability depends on continued accountability and transparency at all levels of governance.”
— Gov Uba Sani
“Our journey in Kaduna demonstrates that meaningful change is achievable when government, citizens, and the media work together,” he said. “Sustainability depends on continued accountability and transparency at all levels of governance.”
Governor Sani’s remarks highlighted the growing recognition among state actors that inclusive communication and public engagement are indispensable to effective health reform.
Uche Amaonwu, the Nigeria Country Director of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, described the media as an “accountability partner” in the national health reform agenda.
“When the media tracks budgets, investigates supply gaps, or highlights unpaid health workers, it turns public policy into public awareness,
— Uche Amaonwu
“When the media tracks budgets, investigates supply gaps, or highlights unpaid health workers, it turns public policy into public awareness,” he asserted. “That awareness drives citizen action—and ultimately compels leadership to act.”
Amaonwu further emphasized that empowering journalists with access to credible data and analytical capacity will strengthen oversight within the health system. “Our collective goal should be to enable the media to track performance, tell the human stories behind the numbers, and hold all stakeholders accountable,” he added.
The dialogue closed with a collective commitment to reinforce partnerships that advance Nigeria’s health agenda under the Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child, Adolescent Health and Nutrition (RMNCAH+N) framework.
Delegates agreed that achieving improved health outcomes depends on consistent, transparent communication between policymakers and the media, supported by a culture of data-driven advocacy.
In her concluding remarks, Ms. Makanjuola reiterated that journalism must evolve into a more development-oriented enterprise. “When the media leads with evidence, empathy, and ethics, it becomes a powerful force for health equity,” she noted.
As Nigeria moves toward realizing Universal Health Coverage, this renewed alliance between government, states, and the media signals a new era—one where communication is not merely a channel for information, but a catalyst for transformation and accountability in public health.
The Advocacy Solution Project is implemented by EngenderHealth in partnership with the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH), with funding from the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. It forms part of the national RMNCAH+N initiative, which seeks to strengthen advocacy, accountability, and evidence-based communication to improve maternal, newborn, and child health outcomes across Nigeria.
