Uba Sani Bags PHC Champion Award, Advocates Media, Government Collaboration for Health Accountability

By Uangbaoje Alex, Kaduna

Kaduna State Governor, Senator Uba Sani, has been honoured with the Primary Health Care (PHC) Champion Award by the International Society of Media in Public Health (ISMPH) for his outstanding commitment to strengthening primary health care delivery in the state.

The award was presented at the National Health Media Dialogue held in Abuja, organized by ISMPH in collaboration with the EngenderHealth Consortium and supported by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.

In his acceptance speech, Governor Sani said the recognition would spur him to do more, reaffirming his administration’s commitment to making quality health care accessible across Kaduna’s 23 local government areas.

“Health is not a privilege, it is a fundamental human right.

“Our government has revitalized and fully equipped 225 primary health centres under the One Functional PHC per Ward policy to ensure that no community is left behind,” he stated.

The governor praised the leadership of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, for driving stronger coordination between federal and state governments on health sector reforms.

He also called on journalists to deepen evidence-based health reporting, noting that the media plays a vital role in promoting accountability and transparency.

“The media has a critical role to play in shaping public perception and driving accountability in the health sector. I urge journalists to tell the success stories and expose the gaps so we can collectively build a healthier, more equitable Nigeria,” Sani said.

In his remarks, Professor Pate emphasized that ongoing economic reforms were designed to improve revenue generation and strengthen key sectors such as health and education.

“When a nation fails to build consensus on prioritizing health and education, development suffers. That consensus must involve political leaders, civil society, the media, and citizens,” the Minister noted.

Executive Director of ISMPH, Mrs. Moji Makanjuola, said the dialogue aimed to amplify advocacy and evidence-based collaboration in public health.

“When primary health care works, maternal and child deaths decline, productivity rises, and the cycle of poverty is broken,” she said.

The event brought together journalists, policymakers, and development partners to advance ethical, accurate, and impactful health reporting in support of Nigeria’s goal of achieving universal health coverage.