Reimagining Health Systems: A Call for Resilience, Equity, Innovation

In recent years, economic downturns, changing political priorities, and reductions in foreign aid have led to significant declines in global health financing.

As the global health sector navigates this shifting funding landscape, health experts and policymakers in Nigeria are calling for a reimagining of health systems, one that prioritizes resilience, sustainability, and a locally driven response anchored on leadership and ownership.

At the core of the discussion was the urgent need to strengthen healthcare infrastructure, improve access to essential services, and harness technology to deliver more responsive and inclusive care.

Speaking at the 5th scientific Roundtable advancing Health systems dialogue, Guest Speaker and Director General of National Agency for the Control of Aids, NACA, Dr Temitope ILori emphasized that Health systems can no longer be reactive but must be adaptive and people-centered.

Dr ILori emphasized that in line with President Tinubu’s Hope Agenda towards ensuring a quality health care system, signed MOUs with foreign partners for sustainability and ownership of production of locally manufactured medicine as well as access to affordable health centers across the country.

The Convener of the Round table, CIHP, Dr Bolanle Oyeledun urged governments and development partners to align their health policies with the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly SDG 3 ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all ages.

Dr. Oyeledun called for increased resources and stronger accountability mechanisms to bridge the gap in health financing, emphasizing the need to sustain community health insurance schemes that are both resilient and capable of delivering quality healthcare services.

Dr Kunle Kakanfo explained that the health care system should leverage on digital innovation such as the AI evolution to control outbreak of diseases as well as a digital health platforms, community-led care models which were gaining traction as practical pathways to more resilient systems.

The keynote speaker at the event, professor Adesegun Fatusi, emphasized that building resilient systems was not just a technical challenge but a moral imperative.

Professor Fatusi explained that a reimagined health system should protect the most vulnerable, empower frontline workers, and ensure no one was left behind.

Professor Adesegun Fatusi
called for new approaches that would address health crisis in Nigeria and enhance the health system to perform optimally.

Ene Idoko, Edited By Grace’s Namiji