L-R: Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate; former Senate President, Senator Bukola Saraki; Edo State Governor, Mr. Godwin Obaseki; and former Edo State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akoria Obehi, at the Nigeria Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge, in Abuja.
Edo State Governor, Godwin Obaseki, beamed with a mouthful smile on Thursday when the state emerged one of the best in primary healthcare delivery in Nigeria, carting away a hefty N184 million, $400,000) cash prize at the Nigeria Primary Health Care (PHC) Leadership Challenge.
The Challenge which is a flagship programme of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum (NGF) and funded jointly by the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, the United Nations International Children’s Emergency Fund (UNICEF), the Dangote Foundation and the National Primary Healthcare Development Agency (NPHCDA) is designed to revamp the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) policy in the country.
Edo State emerged as the runner-up, South-South region to clinch the N184m cash prize.
Governor Obaseki and the ex- Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akoria Obehi, led the delegation from the State Ministry of Health to the very colorful event held at Presidential Villa, in Abuja.
An elated Governor Obaseki said the achievement is a testament to the transformative reforms implemented by his administration in the health sector over the past six years.
According to him, “Our primary goal has always been to improve healthcare delivery and ensure that every citizen has access to quality primary healthcare services. For us, this is not just a recognition of our achievements but an affirmation of our resolve to continue pushing the boundaries of excellence in healthcare delivery. It reinforces our determination to sustain the momentum we have built and further improve the well-being of our people”, he said, adding that, we will continue to invest in infrastructure, human resources, and cutting-edge technologies that will strengthen our primary healthcare system and make it more responsive to the needs of our communities.”
The Representative of UNICEF in Nigeria, Cristian Munduate, noted that the award was in recognition of the exceptional leadership shown by the governors in investing significantly in Primary Health Care, leading to the transformation of the lives of women, girls, and children in their states.
