By Okey Muogbo
In a groundbreaking move, the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON), convened a strategic meeting with the Development Partners Group for Health (DPG-H) Nigeria on Wednesday in Abuja.
The gathering marked a significant milestone in ALGON’s quest to redefine the landscape of primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
The meeting aligns with the Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 3, aiming to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, especially at the grassroots level.
ALGON’s National President, Aminu Mua’zu Maifata, at the occasion emphasized the Association’s commitment to harnessing collaboration and innovation to deliver in building capacities for local governments towards actualising its constitutional responsibilities, focusing on primary healthcare and basic education.
The recent Supreme Court judgment on Local Government, Maifata said, has set the stage for this transformative journey.
According to him, the multi-stakeholder meeting brought together development partners for direct funding, civil society organizations (CSOs), the private sector, and the Guild of Medical Directors to develop a roadmap and strategy for positioning primary healthcare services a critical component of development, particularly in rural areas.
ALGON’s commitment to effective and efficient health coverage of all communities in Nigeria aligns with President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s ‘Renewed Hope Agenda’ and the Health Sector Investment Programme and SWAP, Maifata further said.
“This initiative will strengthen the implementation of the World Health framework, supporting research and development, capacity building and prevention, as well as reduction of mortality.”
The meeting, chaired by ALGON President, was attended by esteemed experts, including ALGON Deputy National President, Chief Moses Nomeh, Evan Enekwe, Acting Director General, Shehu Jega Marshal, the Chief of Staff to The National President, Dr. Walter Kazadi Mulombo, The World Health Organisation (WHO) Country Representative to Nigeria.
