By Dr. Nafisat Makinde
Nigeria is witnessing measurable improvements in the health sector, with primary healthcare visits rising sharply from 10 million in early 2024 to 45 million by the second quarter of 2025.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, announced this on Tuesday in Abuja during a Ministerial Press Briefing ahead of the 2025 Joint Annual Review. The review will evaluate progress under the Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in 2023 by President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
During the briefing, journalists asked questions about the recent surge in primary healthcare visits, progress in high-burden local government areas, and improvements in maternal and newborn health. Professor Pate responded by highlighting the Ministry’s achievements, emphasizing that the 37 out of 41 health reform key performance indicators have already been met and that all states now have operational plans aligned with the national health sector blueprint.
A journalist specifically asked about the 172 high-burden local government areas, where health outcomes have historically lagged. Professor Pate said targeted interventions, deployment of 774 National Health Fellows, and citizen-inclusive performance reviews have led to a 17 percent reduction in maternal deaths and a 12 percent decline in newborn deaths in these areas.
Family planning is also on the rise, with new acceptors up by 10 percent since the beginning of the year, and half of all women of reproductive age now using modern contraceptives. The ministry said over 435 health facilities have been revitalized, and more than 15,000 community health workers have been recruited nationwide.
A citizens’ confidence survey shows that 77 percent of Nigerians now view the health system positively. Confidence in the government’s ability to manage health emergencies has risen from 50 percent to two-thirds of the population.
Professor Pate cautioned that challenges remain, especially around financing and affordability. He urged the media to follow the 2025 Joint Annual Review, themed “All Hands, One Mission: Bringing the Nigerian Health Sector to Light,” which will feature sessions on maternal mortality reduction, health governance, local manufacturing of life sciences products, and expenditure reviews. “The signs of progress are real and data-backed. If we sustain this momentum, Nigeria’s health outcomes will not only improve but will become a model for the continent,” he added.
