The Association of Local Governments of Nigeria has entered into a partnership with the World Health Organisation to ensure the well-being of all Nigerians, especially the rural dwellers across the 774 Local Governments in the country.
The revelation was made by ALGON President Aminu Mua’zu-Maifata on Thursday during a conversation with reporters in Lafia.
He claimed that ALGON’s action was intended to address the health issues faced by the nation’s rural residents, many of whom have long had limited or no access to quality medical care.
Mua’zu-Maifata listed the Health Sector Reform Coalition, the Guild of Medical Doctors, the private sector, and Civil Society Organizations as additional agenda partners in addition to the WHO.
He said, “The ALGON has convened a strategic meeting with the Development Partners Group for Health, Nigeria. This gathering marks a significant milestone in ALGON’s quest to redefine the landscape of primary healthcare delivery at the grassroots.
“The meeting aligns with Sustainable Development Goal 3, which aims to ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all, especially at the grassroots level.
“The multi-stakeholder meeting brought together development partners for direct funding, members from the World Health Organisation, Civil Society Organisations, Health Sector Reform Coalition, the Private Sector, and the Guild of Medical Doctors to develop a roadmap and strategy for positioning primary healthcare services as 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. 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 national president of ALGON emphasized the organization’s dedication to using innovation and teamwork to help local governments fulfill their constitutional obligations while putting a special emphasis on basic education and primary healthcare.
He went on to say that the association was ready to operationalize and revitalize its Primary Health Care program, guaranteeing consistency, quality, and sustainability in the provision of services through ongoing assessment and monitoring throughout all 774 LGAs in the nation.
“The meeting was chaired by me, the ALGON president. In attendance were the ALGON Deputy National president, Moses Nomeh, the World Health Organisation Country’s Representative (Nigeria), Dr. Walter Mulombo, among others,” Mua’zu-Maifata added.
