Traditional rulers have intensified calls for stronger government support to ensure affordable drugs and enhanced community roles in healthcare.
They stressed that reducing dependence on imported medicines is critical to safeguarding public health and strengthening the country’s economy.
The Etsu of Karu, Luka Baba, in an interview yesterday in Abuja, noted that recent reforms, including the recruitment of midwives and the implementation of national health policies, had strengthened facilities and improved accountability.
They spoke on the sidelines of the inaugural National Traditional and Religious Leaders Summit on Health,
”It is important to have a centre that is functional. Our focus now must be on advocacy to encourage uptake,” he said.
He identified the high cost of branded medicines as a major barrier to access and recommended that public hospitals prioritise generic medicines through the national drug formulary to make healthcare more affordable.
Baba also emphasised the importance of personal hygiene and environmental sanitation as critical components of successful primary healthcare programmes.
Similarly, Dr Halliru Yahaya, the Emir of Shonga, Kwara commended the healthcare reform agenda under President Bola Tinubu, describing it as capable of transforming access to quality care nationwide.
According to him, the reforms draw lessons from advanced healthcare systems and are designed to address longstanding service delivery gaps.
“With a reform-minded president, we have a real chance to improve our healthcare system,” he said.
Yahaya stressed that the reform agenda prioritises vulnerable populations, particularly rural and underserved communities, and added that strategic planning and accountability mechanisms are essential for measurable impact.
He highlighted patient committees, composed of community representatives, as key structures for monitoring implementation and ensuring transparency.
“With the participation of communities, we are seeing the beginning of something good,” he added.
Also, Appolos Chu, Eme Okori of Eleme Kingdom in Rivers, underscored the importance of collaboration among local authorities, healthcare providers and families in improving service delivery, particularly in the South-South region.
While acknowledging progress in malaria control and other targeted interventions, he pointed to persistent disparities in access to care.
“Most times, when healthcare is costly, families struggle to access services, and combined with food insecurity, this affects overall health outcomes,” he said.
He also cited limited emergency transport resources, noting that some hospitals operate with as few as 10 to 12 ambulances, affecting timely response to critical cases.
Inspite of the challenges, he commended ongoing financial collaboration between public institutions and primary healthcare providers, describing it as effective in expanding service reach.
The summit highlighted progress recorded under the current administration, including expansion of health insurance coverage, emergency medical services, HIV programmes and primary healthcare initiatives.
Participants, however, emphasised the need for equitable access, stronger community engagement and sustainable financing.
The engagement with traditional and religious leaders was expanded in recognition of the trust and influence they command, particularly in rural communities.
The summit aligned stakeholders with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s reform blueprint under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda, aimed at strengthening implementation and promoting accountability.
Building on the success of the Northern Traditional Leaders Committee on PHCs established in 2009, which supported vaccine uptake and polio eradication, the new summit brings leaders nationwide together to address broader health system priorities beyond immunisation.
The engagement supports reforms under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII) and featured dialogue on maternal and child health, nutrition, human resources for health and service delivery, alongside the launch of the National Health Fellows Programme.
On the Nigeria–U.S Memorandum of Understanding on HIV, TB and Malaria, both countries agreed on a five-year financing framework of approximately five billion dollars, with Nigeria contributing about 60 per cent, alongside a defined transition plan ending in 2030.
Stakeholders stressed that while development partners can provide support, primary responsibility for Nigerians’ health rests with the country, noting that the MoU is a technical service delivery arrangement with no religious bias.