The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has unveiled key reforms aimed at improving primary healthcare delivery, boosting immunisation coverage, and identifying zero-dose children across Nigeria.
Dr. Muyi Aina, Executive Director and CEO of the agency, announced the reforms on Tuesday during the NPHCDA’s quarterly media briefing in Abuja.
Aina said the reforms are central to reducing preventable maternal and newborn deaths, expanding digital health adoption, and improving the overall functionality of primary health centres (PHCs). The goal, he said, is to ensure at least 17,600 fully functional PHCs out of more than 30,000 nationwide.
“These centres must be equipped, staffed, and capable of delivering essential services, especially for women and children,” he said.
Quarterly direct funding to PHCs
Aina disclosed that to reduce bureaucratic bottlenecks, the Federal Government had expanded the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF), enabling PHCs to receive quarterly funds directly.
Low-volume facilities now receive ₦600,000 per quarter, while high-volume centres receive ₦800,000.
A full list of beneficiary PHCs, he said, will be published by January 2026 to enhance transparency.
He also clarified that 8,309 PHCs currently benefit from the BHCPF, while 13,512 more will be included after ongoing verification, with an additional 5,212 being assessed for qualification.
Reaching zero-dose children
Nigeria currently has an estimated 2.1 million zero-dose children—those who have not received any vaccines by their first birthday.
To address this, Aina said the agency introduced the Identify, Enumerate, Vaccinate (IEV) strategy. Between July 2024 and October 2025, more than 500,000 zero-dose children were identified and vaccinated through targeted campaigns and house-to-house mobilisation.
The agency has also mapped 7.4 million residents in hard-to-reach and high-risk locations as part of the strategy.
Digital transformation in PHCs
Aina highlighted ongoing efforts to strengthen digital systems, including:
- Digital health records
- Real-time PHC performance dashboards
- Multilingual e-learning platforms in English, Pidgin, Hausa, Igbo, and Yoruba
- An electronic financial management system to promote accountability
So far, more than 70,000 frontline health workers have been trained, while 27,000 community health workers have been recruited, with states signing MOUs to absorb them permanently.
Maternal and newborn health
Responding to claims of over 20,000 maternal and newborn deaths in 2025, Aina said he was unsure of the data source but acknowledged the severity of Nigeria’s preventable death burden.
“What I can agree with is that we’ve had too many unjustified deaths. That is why the President prioritised reducing maternal and newborn mortality under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative,” he said.
He noted that direct PHC funding, community health worker recruitment, home visits, expanded service delivery, and the MAMI intervention all target major drivers of mortality—including vaccine-preventable diseases.
He added that PHCs are now being repositioned to also deliver services for mental health and non-communicable diseases.
Diphtheria outbreaks and immunisation gaps
Aina attributed ongoing diphtheria outbreaks—responsible for 8,000 cases and 800 deaths—to low Penta-3 coverage.
According to the 2023 NDHS survey, Penta-3 coverage stands at 53%, leaving 47% of children unvaccinated.
“They are susceptible, which explains ongoing outbreaks,” he said.
He emphasised that while the Federal Government procures vaccines, states and local governments are responsible for delivering them. He urged the media to demand accountability from subnational governments.
Strengthening PHC infrastructure and accountability
Aina said revitalisation criteria now include building integrity, availability of health workers, essential equipment, power supply, and adequate medicine stock.
He added that:
- Performance and financial management officers conduct monthly PHC visits
- A new digital finance management app has been launched
- MOUs with security and anti-corruption agencies ensure facility-level accountability
Facilities must fully account for previous funds before receiving new disbursements.
HPV vaccination success
Aina announced that the HPV vaccination programme has reached over 15 million girls aged 9–14, surpassing the target of 13 million.
He said the campaign will continue as new cohorts become eligible each year.
Maternal mortality hotspots
Citing NDHS data, he noted that 172 LGAs across 33 states account for more than half of Nigeria’s maternal deaths. The MAMI programme has now expanded to nearly all states.
On zero-dose children, Aina said: “These are not ghosts. They are children. We know where they are, we know their mothers, and we are removing barriers one by one.”
Commitment to stronger PHC delivery
Aina reaffirmed the NPHCDA’s commitment to strengthening PHCs, boosting immunisation uptake, expanding digital systems, and ensuring transparency at all levels.
He said community trust, accountability, and media collaboration remain central to Nigeria’s health transformation agenda.