Edo positions for stronger primary healthcare delivery ahead of 2026 PHC targets
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 Dennis Idahosa, who also chairs 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 development reflects the government’s commitment to strengthening primary healthcare delivery and expanding access to basic health services across the state.
Idahosa attributed the progress recorded to the leadership of Governor Monday Okpebholo, stating that the administration continues to place healthcare at the centre of Edo 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. Having engaged the 18 local government chairmen, civil society organisations, development partners, health professionals and Medical Officers of Health, I am confident the gaps experienced in 2025 will be 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, describing their technical and financial support 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, noting improvements in coordination, community engagement, PHC revitalisation and partnership strengthening.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Governing Board of the Edo State Primary Health Care Development Agency (EDSPHCDA), Dr. Odiase Ehiabhi, and the Executive Secretary, Dr. Coulson Oahimire Osoikhia, stressed that sustained local government involvement remains vital to delivering quality healthcare services, adding that the meeting provided an opportunity to review performance, identify challenges and agree on strategies for 2026.
Participants at the meeting reaffirmed their commitment to improving health outcomes for residents, with deliberations also focusing on preparations for the Measles–Rubella vaccination campaign scheduled for January 2026, targeting children aged nine months to 14 years, regardless of previous vaccination status.
