Kemi Ogunyemi, a special adviser to the Lagos State governor, has urged healthcare administrators to explore innovative ways to harness untapped resources at the Primary Health Centres (PHCs) within the state.

Ms Ogunyemi made the call at an ongoing three-day 2026 Strategic Management Retreat organised by the Lagos State Health District One (LSHD1) in Lagos.

The retreat, which commenced on Thursday, has the theme “From Constraints to Creativity: Harnessing Untapped Resources at Primary Health Centres.”

She said PHCs remain the foundation of the health system, stressing the need for health administrators to explore opportunities to improve care quality and accessibility.

Ms Ogunyemi said the programme gave healthcare leaders a chance to build on existing achievements, identify areas for improvement, and explore ways to strengthen healthcare delivery.

The special adviser noted that community members, including traditional rulers, faith-based organisations, market women, among others, should be involved in decisions concerning healthcare delivery at PHCs.

Ms Ogunyemi stressed the importance of recognising healthcare workers, describing them as essential to delivering quality patient care.

She commended the six health districts in Lagos for their contributions to healthcare delivery, saying continuous innovation, collaboration and strategic planning were necessary to improve healthcare services.

Speaking earlier, Sola Pitan, the permanent secretary of LSHD1, said the retreat aimed to develop strategies for improving healthcare delivery by identifying available resources and exploring creative ways to address existing challenges.

He noted that conventional funding sources, including government budgets and support from local/international organisations, were insufficient to address the challenges facing primary healthcare centres.

“The recent global developments have also affected funding from donors, and this is why it is necessary for us to explore alternative resources to strengthen healthcare delivery at the PHC level,” he said.

Mr Pitan identified community members, traditional rulers, faith-based organisations and corporate bodies as potential partners in strengthening PHCs through support for primary healthcare centres and communities.

The permanent secretary said the district intended to adopt technology and innovative approaches, including telemedicine and electronic medical systems, to improve service delivery despite limited resources.

He said the retreat would also avail health workers with an opportunity to contribute ideas toward developing a roadmap for achieving the district’s strategic objectives for 2027.

Mr Pitan said the district would continue to strengthen collaboration between primary and secondary healthcare facilities to improve maternal and neonatal health outcomes.

He urged residents to enrol in the state health insurance scheme—Ilera Eko—to reduce out-of-pocket expenditure and improve access to healthcare services.

(NAN)