Nigeria is taking the lead in Africa’s efforts to strengthen health systems by championing sustainable financing and medical oxygen security at the upcoming Africa Primary Health Care Forum (APHCF), scheduled to take place on July 15, 2025, in Abuja.
Director-general of the West African Institute of Public Health, Dr. Francis Ohanyido shared this in an interview with journalists on Friday in Abuja, highlighting the country’s central role in shaping the continent’s health agenda.
The forum, he said, will be declared open by Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate. Pate is expected to convene major health stakeholders from across Africa to forge a renewed commitment toward achieving universal health coverage (UHC) through the development of resilient and people-centered primary health care (PHC) systems.
“A key highlight of the event will be the Africa regional launch of the Lancet Global Health Commission Report on Medical Oxygen Security,” Ohanyido stated. “The report emphasises the essential role of medical oxygen in saving lives, especially in low- and middle-income countries, where oxygen shortages remain a silent contributor to preventable deaths.”
According to the Lancet report, an estimated $6.8 billion is required annually to meet global oxygen demand a target that experts say is achievable with sufficient political will and domestic investment.
“Nigeria has shown leadership by launching its National Oxygen Strategy as far back as 2016,” Ohanyido noted. “Under Pate’s guidance, the country continues to prioritize oxygen access as a core element of its primary health care reform.”
Quoting the minister, Ohanyido added, “Strong primary health care is the bedrock of universal health coverage. Investing in it leads to healthier communities, better health outcomes and greater resilience against public health emergencies.”
Another central theme of the forum is the alignment of donor funding with national health priorities. Ohanyido emphasised the importance of sound public financial management (PFM) to ensure health resources are efficiently deployed.
These principles are aligned with the Lusaka Agenda, a global framework encouraging countries to transition from aid dependency to greater ownership of their health systems. “The Lusaka Agenda offers a transformational approach, driving sustainable and equitable health systems through improved domestic financing and strategic coordination,” he said.
The APHCF will feature a flagship plenary session on partnerships, co-led by the World Bank, Global Financing Facility, UNICEF, the Partnership for Maternal, Newborn and Child Health and the Government of Nigeria. This session will explore how aligned investments and transparent financial flows can unlock progress in PHC delivery and health security.
Nigeria’s adoption of the sector-wide approach (SWAp) in health, where all stakeholders contribute to a unified national health plan, is being highlighted as a model for effective collaboration between government, donors and civil society.
“The forum’s emphasis on oxygen security, sustainable financing, and stakeholder alignment could mark a pivotal moment for health systems in Africa,” Ohanyido said. “With limited resources and rising disease burdens, this forum is more than a conference – it’s a call to action.”
He concluded by urging African countries and development partners to prioritize scalable, long-term investments in PHC. “Achieving universal health coverage and health security requires more than policy statements. It demands concrete, sustainable action. The time to act is now.”
