Health Minister Ali Pate says funds from the basic healthcare provision fund will be expended on revitalising Nigeria’s primary healthcare centres nationwide.

Mr Pate made the remarks while speaking to state house reporters at the presidential residence in Abuja on Wednesday.

The minister had met with President Bola Tinubu in a meeting with Seniat Fisseha, the Buffett Foundation’s Vice President for Global Programmes.

Mr Pate said he had discussions with the president on health issues, and Mr Tinubu directed that the ministry ensure an improvement in Nigerians’ well-being.

“Accordingly, in recent days, he has approved three important steps for us to move forward with that. And has asked us to talk less and do more.

“And in that spirit, he, in fact, has asked us to pursue a very ambitious sector-wide programme to improve population health outcomes, using the basic healthcare provision fund as a basis for reviving our primary healthcare system,” said Mr Pate.

Mr Pate revealed that his ministry would work with state governments, community, and traditional leaders to ensure that Nigerians get better quality services.

He said issues impeding the current state of the PHCs that would be addressed would involve malaria, immunisation, maternal and child health, and reproductive health.

Mr Pate also disclosed that Ms Fisseha would partner with the federal government to advance the health and well-being of all, especially adolescent girls and women, through state-wide programmes. ⁣

“Mr President has also approved a presidential initiative to unlock the healthcare value chain that will help drive the medical industrialisation agenda with clear targets. It will require the public and private sectors working hand in hand.

“And thirdly, directed us to design social action funds as a way of reaching communities, so that we trust them, we empower them, we support them to solve the issues that are very simple that afflict many of our people in the grassroots,” the minister said.

In her remarks, Ms Fisseha said her government is delighted to partner with the Nigerian government and that her foundation would be committed to partnering with the federal and state governments.

“I do like the president’s direction on talking less and doing more and getting to action,” said Ms Fisseha. “So our hope is that we will be a committed partner to supporting the federal, as well as state governments and communities to deliver health for all, so thank you very much for the opportunity today.”