The Edo State Government has rolled out a comprehensive roadmap aimed at achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by significantly strengthening primary healthcare (PHC) services, with increased investment, digital innovation, and strategic partnerships at the core of the plan.
Governor Monday Okpebholo unveiled the roadmap on Thursday at the Edo SHINE Primary Healthcare Summit 2026 held in Benin. The summit, themed “Strengthening Primary Healthcare Systems to Accelerate Progress Towards Universal Health Coverage and Improved Health Outcomes,” served as a platform to review progress and chart a sustainable path forward.
Represented by the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole, the governor described the summit as a call to action. He reaffirmed his administration’s commitment to building a resilient, people-centred healthcare system that delivers quality and affordable services to all residents of the state.
Okpebholo emphasised that primary healthcare remains the foundation of Universal Health Coverage, serving as the first point of contact for most citizens and providing essential services such as maternal care, child immunisation, disease prevention, and early outbreak detection.
He highlighted key priorities under the SHINE Agenda, including investment in healthcare infrastructure, workforce development, disease surveillance, digital health solutions, quality improvement, and data-driven decision-making. The governor noted that collaboration with development partners, particularly through the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project, has strengthened infrastructure, improved service delivery, and boosted public confidence in the state’s health system.
Despite notable progress, Okpebholo acknowledged persistent challenges such as workforce shortages, financing gaps, infrastructure deficits, and rising healthcare demands. He called for collective action from local governments, traditional and religious institutions, development partners, civil society organisations, the private sector, and communities to ensure no one is left behind in the journey towards UHC.
The governor also spotlighted Edo’s growing international recognition in healthcare innovation. He recalled that Benin City won the prestigious one-million-dollar Bloomberg Philanthropies Mayors Challenge in February 2026 after competing against over 600 cities worldwide. The award recognised the state’s innovative model combining digital health solutions, neighbourhood healthcare kiosks, and efficient referral systems to improve access and strengthen responses to outbreaks like Lassa fever.
In his address, Commissioner for Health Dr. Cyril Oshiomhole described primary healthcare as the backbone of any effective and equitable health system. He announced that malaria testing and treatment are now provided free of charge in all government hospitals across the state, including the Reference Hospital in Abudu.
The Executive Secretary of the Edo State Primary Healthcare Development Agency, Dr. Coulson Osoikhia, said the summit offered an opportunity to assess achievements, identify gaps, and develop sustainable strategies for UHC. He commended the First Lady, Mrs. Edesili Okpebholo, for her advocacy on maternal and child health, which has contributed to higher immunisation rates.
The Chairman of the Association of Local Governments of Nigeria (ALGON) in Edo, Mr. Sunny Ekpeson, pledged the commitment of the 18 local government chairmen to support the renovation and equipping of primary healthcare centres and to recruit healthcare workers from their communities to improve retention in rural areas.
The summit featured panel discussions on sustainable financing, community participation, infrastructure development, and effective management of health facilities. Excellence awards were presented to key stakeholders, including the Commissioner for Health and some local government chairmen, for their contributions to advancing primary healthcare in the state.