Speakers at the Orodata Science Twitter Space held on Tuesday have highlighted the impact of Public Private Partnership in bridging the gap in Nigeria’s healthcare system.
The topic of the conversation is: “Bridging the Healthcare Gap: Can PPPs Solve Nigeria’s Rural Health Crises?
While setting the tone of the discussion, the Moderator, Benedicta Elikor, Orodata Science, noted that with only 55,000 doctors for 220 million people, Nigeria’s healthcare system is overwhelmed.
Elikor said that Nigeria is facing a severe Lassa fever outbreak, with 563 confirmed cases and 103 deaths recorded in 2025.
According to her, the disease has spread across 14 states, with Ondo, Edo, and Bauchi experiencing the highest burden.
“Combined with meningitis outbreaks and malaria, these challenges highlight the urgent need for sustainable healthcare solutions,” Elikor said.
Speaking during the conversation, Prof. Lutz Mukke, Director, Institutional Partnership Africa, Lecturio, defined PPP as Public Private Partnership – a collaboration between the government and private sector to provide healthcare to the citizens.
Prof. Mukke said that Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) hold the potential to significantly reduce healthcare costs by pooling resources from both governmental and private sectors, thus making medical services more affordable and accessible to the population.
He added that Nigeria possesses a wealth of natural and human resources, including skilled healthcare professionals, which, when effectively utilized, can substantially enhance the quality of healthcare delivery across the country.
On the sustainability of PPP projects, Mukke said that many Public-Private Partnership (PPP) projects have relatively short durations, often spanning just a few years.
“However, for these initiatives to continue thriving and to achieve their long-term objectives, it is crucial for the government to ensure their sustainability.
“This involves implementing strategies and policies that support ongoing operations, maintenance, and funding, even after the initial PPP agreement has concluded,” Mukke said.
Also speaking, Dr. Rita Ajirenike, Doctor & Health Analyst, River State Hospital Board, PPPs can play a crucial role in bridging the healthcare gap in rural areas by providing well-structured and accessible housing solutions for healthcare professionals.
Ajirenike said that the initiative not only attracts skilled medical personnel to underserved regions but also promotes a more stable and efficient delivery of healthcare services.
“By ensuring that healthcare workers have suitable living conditions, PPPs foster a more sustainable and committed healthcare workforce, ultimately leading to improved health outcomes for rural communities,” Ajirenike said.
She noted that there are numerous challenges that hinder the effective allocation and distribution of funds to healthcare services in rural areas.
“Among these challenges are poor governance and oversight, which often lead to inefficient management and allocation of resources, weakening the infrastructure intended to support healthcare delivery.
“Additionally, the lack of accountability exacerbates the situation, as it allows for mismanagement and misappropriation of funds, further depriving rural communities of essential healthcare services they desperately need,” Ajirenike said.
She noted that private companies have the potential to significantly contribute to the healthcare sector by offering a range of services and resources, such as logistics support, telemedicine technology, and capacity building programs for healthcare workers.
She added that they can supply state-of-the-art healthcare equipment, all of which can streamline and improve healthcare delivery.
“By collaborating with these private entities, healthcare facilities can enhance the quality of patient care, ensuring that services are more efficient, accessible, and of higher quality, ultimately benefiting both healthcare providers and patients alike,” Ajirenike said.
Reflecting on the COVID 19 Pandemic, Ajirenike said that the key takeaways from the COVID-19 pandemic include the critical need for enhancing workforce capacity to ensure that healthcare systems are better prepared for future challenges.
She said that there was the need to integrate advanced technology into healthcare infrastructures to improve response times and care efficiency.
“Furthermore, the pandemic highlighted the importance of standardized data collection and analysis, which can provide valuable insights and guide decision-making processes.
“Finally, the incident underscored the significance of ongoing workforce training to adapt to evolving health crises and to implement innovative solutions effectively,” Ajirenike said.
Orodata Science is a Non Governmental Organisation that fosters equitable access to information, improving data accessibility for citizens, captains of industry, civil society and the media.
