Edo Strengthens Grassroots Healthcare as PHC Taskforce Charts Course For 2026
The Edo State Government has held its Fourth Quarter Primary Healthcare (PHC) Taskforce meeting at the Festival Hall, marking a significant milestone in the state’s health sector governance.
Deputy Governor of the State, Dennis Idahosa, who also serves as Chairman of the State PHC Taskforce, described the meeting as a major achievement, noting that it was the first time the taskforce had successfully convened all four quarterly meetings within a single year. He said the milestone reflects the state government’s strong commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and expanding access to basic health services across Edo State.
Idahosa attributed the progress recorded to the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, whose administration, he said, continues to place healthcare at the centre of the state’s development agenda.
Expressing optimism about the future, the Deputy Governor said the state was better positioned to address existing gaps in service delivery.
“We are confident that 2026 will be far better than 2025. We have engaged the 18 Local Government Chairmen, civil society organisations, development partners, health professionals and Medical Officers of Health in extensive deliberations on advancing primary healthcare in Edo State. I am confident that the gaps experienced in 2025 will be adequately addressed in 2026,” he said.
He also commended development partners, including the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF, JSI, Corona Management and IVAC, for their technical and financial support, describing their contributions as critical to the progress recorded so far.
In his remarks, the Commissioner for Health, Dr. Cyril Adams Oshiomhole, emphasised the importance of primary healthcare as the first point of contact for citizens, particularly women, children and other vulnerable groups. He noted that the state had recorded measurable progress in coordination, community engagement, PHC revitalisation and partnership strengthening in recent months.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Odiase Ehiabhi, stressed that the active involvement and commitment of local government chairmen remain crucial to delivering quality healthcare services and improving performance indicators at the grassroots.
The Executive Secretary of EDSPHCDA, Dr. Coulson Oahimire Osoikhia, said the meeting provided an opportunity to review past performance, identify challenges and agree on clear strategies to guide PHC implementation in 2026.
During the session, PHC leadership challenges were highlighted by the EDSPHCDA Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, Mrs. Esther Ajayi-David, who outlined key issues and proposed strategies aimed at improving performance and positioning Edo State for better outcomes in the 2026 PHC Leadership Challenge.
Stakeholders at the meeting reaffirmed their collective commitment to improving health outcomes for Edo residents in the year ahead.
A major focus of the deliberations was also preparation for the Measles–Rubella vaccination campaign scheduled to commence in January 2026. The campaign will target children aged nine months to 14 years, regardless of their previous measles vaccination status.
