In a bid to revolutionize primary healthcare delivery across Nigeria, President Bola Tinubu has sanctioned the establishment of the National Health Fellows Programme.
According to Special Adviser to the President on Media and Publicity Chief Ajuri Ngelale , this initiative aims to bolster existing primary healthcare centers while also constructing over 8,800 new facilities nationwide. The goal is to ensure accessible and high-quality healthcare services and introduce new social accountability measures.
Ngelale affirmed the President’s commitment to advancing healthcare services for all Nigerians, irrespective of their geographical location.
Under this programme, young Nigerian fellows will be deployed to all 774 local government areas in the country. These well-trained individuals will serve as fiduciary agents, tasked with monitoring and evaluating the development and performance of primary healthcare centers. Their assessments will be meticulously measured against the financial allocations received by these centers from various sources.
The National Health Fellows Programme will be administered by the Sector Wide Approach (SWAp) coordination office under the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Fellows will undergo recruitment, receive remuneration, and be equipped with the necessary tools to effectively monitor the performance of Basic Health Care Provision Fund-supported health facilities nationwide.
President Tinubu, who also serves as the African Union Champion for Human Resources in Healthcare, expresses confidence in the capabilities of young Nigerians. He believes their involvement in this pivotal national endeavor, which includes daily monitoring and tracking of health reforms in their respective areas, will herald a new era of world-class healthcare service delivery across the nation.
