Details of this emerged at a joint press briefing by the Minister of Health, Prof. Ali Pate, and Vice President for Global Programmes at the Buffett Foundation, Prof. Seniat Fisseha, after closed-door talks with the President at the State House, Abuja.
Emphasising Tinubu’s directive of “talk less and do more,” Pate highlighted the three directives to include the launch of an ambitious sector-wide programme centred on improving population health outcomes.
With the basic healthcare provision fund as its foundation, the programme, he said, aims to rejuvenate the primary healthcare system.
Meanwhile, collaborations with state governments, community, and traditional leaders are expected to ensure better quality services in areas like malaria treatment, immunisation, maternal and child health and reproductive health.
“He (Tinubu) has asked us to talk less and do more. In that spirit, he has asked us to pursue a very ambitious sector-wide programme to improve population health outcomes, using the basic healthcare provision fund as a basis for reviving our primary healthcare system and working with state governments and community leaders, traditional leaders to ensure that Nigerians get better quality services and to deal with the issues that bother them,” he said.
Announcing partnerships within the three tiers of government and development partners, Pate said, “That sector-wide programme is underway and our visitor today is committed to working with us on that, to work with countries systems, not set up parallel systems.
“And we’re very glad that the Susan-Buffett Foundation is willing to partner with the government of Nigeria to advance the health and wellbeing of all, especially our adolescent girls and women.”
Unlocking the healthcare value chain was the second focal point.
The Health Minister said Tinubu approved a presidential initiative aiming at the medical industrialisation of Nigeria.
The initiative will foster collaborations between the public and private sectors, with the government ensuring an enabling environment and the private sector focusing on critical healthcare production, he explained.
The former GAVI Executive said President Tinubu’s directive to devise a social action fund is intended to empower communities at the grassroots.
“Mr President has also approved an initiative, a presidential initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain, that will help drive the medical industrialisation agenda with clear targets. It will require the public and private sectors working hand in hand,” Pate explained.
Representing the Buffett Foundation was its Vice President for Global Programmes, Prof. Fisseha, who said the foundation, known for its focus on women, girls, and primary healthcare, aligns perfectly with the government’s goals.
Prof. Fisseha cited the President’s action-driven approach, stating, “I do like the President’s direction on talking less and doing more and getting to action.
“So, we are extremely excited. I don’t want to duplicate what has been said. We hope that we will be a committed partner to supporting the federal as well as state governments and communities to deliver health for all, so thank you very much for the opportunity today.”
