Health
Liberia, UNICEF Seek More Investments In Health, Education
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The need for increased investments to improve quality education services, health care, and prevent violence against children has been emphasised by Liberia and UNICEF.
The call for action came after a joint annual review of progress in 2016, and agreement on priorities for focus in 2017.
“Liberia has made significant progress since the end of the Ebola outbreak, with health facilities functional, and many children back in school. It is essential that we increase investments in these critical areas, to ensure that Liberia builds on the progress made, and also address other critical areas to promote child and women’s rights,” says the Minister of Finance and Development Planning in the country, Boima Kamara.
“UNICEF has contributed close to US 48 million dollars in 2016 toward increasing access to services as well as to the improvement of the lives of children and women in Liberia, and the benefits are evident,” added Minister Kamara.
The Government of Liberia – UNICEF annual review meeting held on 28 November assessed the implementation of joint work plans and the key results achieved during 2016. Prior to this annual review meeting, comprehensive sectoral reviews were conducted since early November, led by the Government and UNICEF together with a wide range of development and civil society partners.
The objective of the annual review process was to assess overall progress, collaboratively strategize ways to address challenges, and prioritize interventions for 2017.
“This is an important step in our efforts to improve the lives of children and women in Liberia,” says Dr. Suleiman Braimoh, UNICEF Representative in Liberia. “Only through reflection and a thorough review of our work can we assess progress, identify shortcomings and strategize on the way forward.”
“We thank all our donor partners for their support, without which progress would not have been made. However, many challenges remain. We need to increase investments in critical areas to address post-Ebola outbreak challenges and residual issues, as well as combat the high levels of violence against children.
“The government needs to ensure that health, education and other services receive adequate funding in the annual budget, while development partners need to provide long-term predictable funding to help plan and implement projects that have long-term sustainable impact.”
Some of the key highlights of progress in 2016, include:
- The reactivation of health services, and increased access for children and women.
- Over 700,000 children and 44,000 teachers have increased access to learning and teaching through the provision of teaching/learning kits.
- Over 225,000 people have benefitted from the construction or rehabilitation of water, sanitation, hygiene and waste management systems in 9 hospitals and 4 health facilities in eight counties.
- Water, sanitation and hygiene services have been provided in 102 schools in six counties, benefiting close to 40,000 children.
- Increased trend of immunization coverage observed in 2016.
- Over 140,000 children have received birth certificates, up from 63,500 in 2015.
- Close to 145,000 most vulnerable children and young people have received quality essential social services through the deployment of social workers.
- Populations have increased access to life-saving information on immunization, handwashing, nutrition and protection.
- Ninety community peace committees have been set up to increase peacebuilding and conflict resolution.
- 300 National Volunteers were deployed at 118 public institutions in 13 counties to support sub-national service provision, especially as teachers in schools, benefitting over 45,000 pupils and community residents.
- 1,000 adolescent received life-skills training.
A number of priorities were agreed on for focus in 2017, including:
- Advocacy to increase budgeting for health, education and social services.
- Scale-up implementation of the community health assistant programme in five counties.
- Increase youth and adolescent empowerment and employment opportunities through life-skills, vocational and technical education.
- Develop and disseminate a national life skills curriculum for adolescents, and support the development of an adolescent empowerment strategy.
- Support the development of the National Plan of Action for Children.
- Increase efforts to prevent and respond to sexual and gender based violence.
- Increase public awareness about the importance of early childhood development, and support planned initiatives.
- Scale up learner-centred teacher training in order to improve learning outcomes.
UNICEF has been a longstanding partner of the Government of Liberia in implementing its priorities and promoting the rights and wellbeing of the children of Liberia.
On December 10, 2016 UNICEF marks 70 years of working internationally in 190 countries to bring life-saving aid, long-term support and hope to children whose lives and futures are endangered by conflict, crises, poverty, inequality and discrimination.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
Dr Obi Adigwe has been appointed as the pioneer National Coordinator of the National Health Technology and Data Analytics Office (NHTDAO).
The body was created by the Ministry of Health under the approval of President Bola Tinubu.
NHTDAO will be domiciled in the Office of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, a statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Mr Bayo Onanuga, stated.
The agency will serve as a meta-level national platform for coordinating the country’s digital-health agenda. It will reinforce, not replace, the existing statutory functions of relevant departments and agencies, it was emphasised.
The organisation will also harmonise and empower the public and private institutions across the health system, set the standards that connect them, and operationalise the National Digital Health Architecture, approved by the National Council on Health in November 2025.
It was stated that President Tinubu expects NHTDAO to accelerate Nigeria’s transition to a secure, interoperable and data-driven health system that improves outcomes for all citizens.
Mr Adigwe, as Director General of the National Institute for Pharmaceutical Research and Development, has leveraged science to catalyse interventions in artificial intelligence, translational research, and technology transfer.
He coordinated major projects, including the ¥300m Nanotechnology grant and the AFREXIMBank grant for Africa’s first API Training Facility. He led the roadmap development that underpinned an €18 million EU grant, the largest in Africa for the thematic area. During the last pandemic, Adigwe globally showcased African science by undertaking the world’s first analysis to debunk claims about the Covid Organics preparation.
The Office’s Steering Committee, which provides strategic direction and oversight, comprises:
- Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare (Co-chair)
- Mr Olaniyi Yusuf, Chairman of the Nigerian Economic Summit Group (Co-chair)
- Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare (Alternate Co-chair)
- Ms Kachollom Daju, Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
- Mr Idris Alubankudi Saliu, Special Adviser to the President on Technology and Digital Economy
- Dr Muntaqa Umar-Sadiq, National Coordinator, SWAp Coordination Office
- Dr Abdu Mukhtar, National Coordinator, Presidential Initiative to Unlock Healthcare Value Chain
- Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director, National Primary Health Care Development Agency
- Dr Kelechi Ohiri, Director General, National Health Insurance Authority
- Director, Health Planning, Research and Statistics, Ministry of Health and Social Welfare
- National Information Technology Development Agency Representative
- Six representatives of the State Commissioners of Health, one from each of the six geopolitical zones
- Pharm Hamza Buhari, Stakeholder representing Industry and Community.
By Modupe Gbadeyanka
The Lagos State government has kicked off an initiative to ensure that every newborn is screened for Sickle Cell Disease within 48 to 72 hours after birth using a simple heel-prick test.
It was gathered that babies identified as being at risk will immediately be placed on preventive care while awaiting confirmatory testing.
The Head of the Haematology Department at the Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Olubukola Orolu, revealed that an estimated 150,000 babies are born annually with Sickle Cell Disease in Nigeria, giving the country one of the highest SCD burdens globally.
She, however, applauded the Lagos State Government and the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI) for introducing the state-wide newborn screening programme, describing it as a major step towards reducing childhood deaths associated with the disease.
The commencement of this scheme coincides with the 2026 World Sickle Cell Day, themed Young Voices Rising for Sickle Cell Disease – Closing the Survival Gap: Equity in Sickle Cell Disease.
It highlights the importance of listening to the experiences and aspirations of young people living with Sickle Cell Disease.
Mrs Orolu noted that SCD warriors are increasingly breaking barriers as advocates, leaders, students and change-makers, adding that their voices have continued to reshape the narrative through advocacy for equitable, patient-centred healthcare, self-care and experience sharing.
She, therefore, called for equal access to quality healthcare, survival opportunities and dignity for everyone living with Sickle Cell Disease.
Also commenting, the chief executive of Alimosho General Hospital, Dr Akinyele Akinlade, described Sickle Cell Disease as an inherited blood disorder that is not contagious, noting that individuals living with the condition are more susceptible to infections.
He advised SCD warriors to stay well hydrated, avoid stress, and protect themselves from extreme cold or heat, as these are common triggers of sickle cell crises, adding that these preventive measures can significantly reduce the frequency and severity of crises.
One of the participants, Ms Borokini Zainab, an SCD warrior and student nurse, expressed appreciation to the organisers for the enlightenment programme.
Sharing her personal journey, she spoke about the challenges of balancing recurrent pain crises with her academic pursuits and personal life. Despite moments of frustration, she encouraged fellow warriors not to lose hope.
“Don’t let sickle cell put you down. Be encouraged from within. Don’t let your dreams be shattered because of this,” she said, adding that her personal experience with Sickle Cell Disease inspired her to pursue a career in nursing so she could support others living with the condition.
By Aduragbemi Omiyale
A 12-week health-tech incubation programme tailored for early-stage founders in Nigeria has been introduced by an innovation and venture-building platform, Evon Labs.
This initiative, known as HealthX Catalyst, will help participants to create scalable, investable solutions for Africa’s urgent healthcare issues.
The programme is underway, with 12 selected founders nearing the final weeks of intensive incubation, ending with a Demo Day on June 24, 2026, at the UNDP innovation centre in Lagos, where the small business owners will present their solutions to an audience of investors, healthcare leaders, development organisations, and technology partners.
The initiative selects early-stage healthcare founders and immerses them in a structured 12-week development process. Throughout this period, participants receive personalised and group mentorship from seasoned professionals across the healthcare, technology, and business sectors.
They also receive structured support for startup development, including refining business models, developing value propositions, and validating markets.
Additionally, participants gain access to a network of healthcare practitioners, sector experts, and industry leaders, along with targeted investment-readiness assistance to prepare them to engage with investors and strategic partners after the programme.
The result is a cohort of founders who move through the programme not simply with a refined pitch, but with a validated business model, a stronger professional network, and a clear pathway to growth.
To accelerate the most promising solutions beyond the programme, monetary grants will be awarded to the top three founders to support product development, pilot implementation, market validation, and early-stage scaling.
It was learned that HealthX Catalyst was developed in response to a structural gap in the African health-tech ecosystem.
Across the continent, a growing number of entrepreneurs are building solutions to healthcare problems from access and diagnostics to service delivery and health data infrastructure. Yet many of these early-stage ideas fail to progress beyond concept, not for lack of vision, but for lack of structured support: mentorship, startup development frameworks, industry access, and early-stage funding pathways. HealthX Catalyst was built to provide exactly that.
“Africa does not have a shortage of healthcare innovators. What it has lacked is the infrastructure to turn its ideas into sustainable businesses. HealthX Catalyst is that infrastructure, a serious, structured programme designed to take founders from early-stage ideas to investable startups.
“What we are seeing from this first cohort is exactly what we set out to create: founders who are not just building products, but building businesses that can scale and create lasting impact,” the founder of Evon Labs, Ms Isioma Udeozo, said of the unveiling of HealthX Catalyst.
The partners of the programme are the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), Odua Investment Company Limited (OICL), Washington University of St Louis, Missouri, Lagos State Employment Trust Fund (LSETF), and Brooks Insights.
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