FCT Wins Second Position In PHC Leadership Challenge Award, Gets $.4M USD

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By: Badaru Yakasai

The Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Primary Health Care (PHC) system came second in the North Central zone of the country, for the 2nd edition of Primary Health Care Leadership Challenge, with an award prize of the sum of $400,000 USD.

This year’s edition, which is the 2nd, was Chaired by the Vice President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria, Senator Kashim Shettima, who was represented at the occasion by a former Minister of FCT, and Special Adviser to the Vice President, Dr. Aliyu Madibbo Umar.

As the FCT emerged the Runner-up for “Best Performing and Most Improved State” with a cash incentive of $400,000 in recognition of its implemented innovations and outstanding performance in strengthening PHC system in the FCT in line with Universal Health Coverage among other states in the the year 2024, the Kwara State came first in the North Central Zone with a prize of the sum of $500,000 USD.

Responding to this remarkable feat, the Mandate Secretary, FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat (HSES), Dr. Adedolapo Fasawe, said the award underscores the strategic leadership of FCT Minister, Nyesom Wike, in investing in healthcare and the credible services carried out daily in Primary Health Care centres across the Territory.

Fasawe noted that FCT Healthcare system promotes and utilizes the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) adequately, which yields significant improvements in antenatal coverage, increased proportion of women who are using modern contraceptives methods, increase rate of women delivery with skilled birth attendants through various approaches targeted at creating awareness and educating vulnerable women on the importance of accessing quality healthcare system within their proximity.

The Mandate Secretary, while appreciating the entire management and staff team of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat in addition to other stakeholders like; Federal Ministry of Health and World Health Organization, called for more action by putting in more work to ensure that the commitment to strengthen and improve Primary Health Care Systems in Nigeria is actualized in full.

According to her, since the inception of President Bola Tinubu’s Administration, the FCT Healthcare system has witnessed gross improvement under the leadership of the Minister of FCT, who is unabated in delivering the ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ of Mr. President to the people of FCT.

The Ag. Executive Secretary, FCT Primary Health Care Board, Dr. Ruqqaya Wamako, who represented the Mandate Secretary at the occasion received the award on behalf of the FCT.

Abuja Digest reports that the PHC Leadership Challenge was launched in 2022 by the Nigeria Governors Forum (NGF) as a commitment to strengthen and improve Primary Health Care system across the country and to appraise performance of states, as the 1st award edition kicked-off in 2023.