The Edo Government has unveiled a roadmap to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by strengthening primary healthcare (PHC), reaffirming its commitment to increased investment, digital innovation and partnerships.
Gov. Monday Okpebholo unveiled the roadmap on Thursday at the Edo SHINE Primary Healthcare Summit 2026 in Benin.
The summit was themed, “Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems to Accelerate Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage and Improved Health Outcomes.”
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr Cyril Oshiomhole, the governor said the summit was a call to action.
He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a resilient, people-centred healthcare system that delivers quality, affordable healthcare services to all Edo residents.
Okpebholo said primary healthcare was the foundation of Universal Health Coverage.
He noted that PHC remained the first point of contact for most citizens, providing maternal care, child immunization, disease prevention, early outbreak detection and other essential health services.
The governor said his administration had prioritized investment in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, disease surveillance, digital health solutions, quality improvement and data-driven decision-making under the SHINE Agenda.
He said collaboration with development partners, especially through the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project, had strengthened healthcare infrastructure, improved service delivery and boosted public confidence in the state’s health system.
Okpebholo, however, said workforce shortages, financing gaps, infrastructure deficits and rising healthcare demands required sustained attention and innovative solutions.
He urged local governments, traditional and religious institutions, development partners, civil society organizations, the private sector and communities to work together to ensure no community was left behind in the drive towards Universal Health Coverage.
The governor also highlighted Edo’s growing global recognition in healthcare innovation.
He said Benin City won the one million-dollar Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge in February 2026 after competing against more than 600 cities worldwide.
According to him, the award recognized Edo’s innovative healthcare delivery model, combining digital health solutions, neighborhood healthcare kiosks and referral systems to improve access to healthcare and strengthen responses to disease outbreaks, including Lassa fever.
He said the innovation demonstrated Edo’s leadership in digital health transformation and had the potential for global replication.
Okpebholo urged participants to ensure that resolutions from the summit translated into practical actions that would strengthen the healthcare system and improve health outcomes.
Speaking as Commissioner for Health, Oshiomhole said primary healthcare remained the backbone of an effective, equitable and resilient health system.
He said strong PHC was critical to disease prevention, health promotion, immunization, outbreak response and the delivery of quality healthcare services close to communities.
Oshiomhole disclosed that malaria testing and treatment were provided free in all government hospitals across the state, including the Reference Hospital in Abudu.
He commended healthcare workers for their professionalism and dedication but acknowledged persistent challenges, including workforce shortages, financing constraints, infrastructure deficits and changing disease patterns.
The commissioner called for stronger partnerships, innovation and sustained investment to improve healthcare delivery.
Earlier, the Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr Coulson Osoikhia, said the summit provided an opportunity to review progress, identify gaps and chart a sustainable path towards Universal Health Coverage.
He said Edo had recorded improvements in healthcare infrastructure, service delivery and public confidence through the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project and collaboration with development partners.
Osoikhia also acknowledged Mrs Edesili Okpebholo’s advocacy for maternal and child health, saying it had contributed to increased uptake of routine immunization across the state.
He urged local governments to take greater ownership of primary healthcare through improved funding, facility maintenance, renovation, upgrades, construction of new centres and community engagement.
Delivering the keynote address, Prof. Andrew Obi said primary healthcare remained the cornerstone of Universal Health Coverage.
He said sustained political commitment, strategic leadership and stronger institutions were critical to achieving quality healthcare for all.
Obi said Edo’s health budget increased from 4.6 per cent in 2016 to 9.6 per cent in 2025, while health insurance coverage rose from three per cent to 31 per cent over the period.
He added that 61 primary healthcare facilities had been upgraded, BCG immunization coverage exceeded 95 per cent and disease surveillance had improved through digital technology.
Obi said inadequate financing, shortage of healthcare workers, infrastructure deficits, limited 24-hour services and population growth remained major challenges.
He recommended increased domestic health financing, expansion of health insurance, accelerated digital health transformation, stronger community participation and sustained investment in healthcare workers to achieve Universal Health Coverage by 2030.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Edo, Mr Sunny Ekpeson, said Universal Health Coverage was a shared responsibility.
He said local governments, being the closest tier of government to the people, were strategically positioned to improve access to primary healthcare, sanitation, immunization, maternal health services and health education.
Ekpeson pledged that the state’s 18 local government chairmen would support the renovation and equipping of primary healthcare centres.
He also advocated greater involvement of local governments in recruiting healthcare workers from their communities to improve staff retention, reduce absenteeism and strengthen healthcare delivery, particularly in rural areas.
The summit featured a panel discussion on strengthening primary healthcare through collaboration, sustainable financing, community participation, improved infrastructure and effective management of health facilities.
Excellence awards were presented to Oshiomhole and some local government chairmen for their contributions to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and advancing healthcare development in Edo. (NAN).
