1. Executive Summary
The 7th Biennial Scientific Conference of APHPN Lagos Chapter gathered public health leaders, government officials, practitioners, academics and private sector partners to examine the theme “Global Health Under Threat: Advancing Sustainable Financing and Workforce Capacity for Equitable Healthcare Delivery in the Global South.” Discussions highlighted weaknesses in Nigeria’s health financing, workforce, digital infrastructure, system coordination, and governance. The conference presented forward-looking recommendations aimed at improving sustainable financing, digital health integration, workforce capacity, community trust, and evidence-based policymaking. Stakeholders reinforced the central role of public health physicians and the need for greater recognition and employment across institutions.
2. Introduction
The conference aimed to address pressing health system challenges affecting Nigeria and Lagos State, particularly in the areas of health financing, workforce development, digital innovations, equity in healthcare access, and health sector governance. The conference provided a structured platform for knowledge exchange, the demonstration of innovations, and the development of policy-oriented solutions involving multidisciplinary stakeholders. The conference sub-themes were:” Rethinking Health Sector Investment: A call for a paradigm shift towards equitable and sustainable approaches”, “Innovations in Health System Strengthening: Leveraging Digital Health, Telemedicine And Artificial Intelligence To Bridge Operational Gaps in Nigeria” and “ Postgraduate Fellows Program and the Gains for the Health Sector: Redefining the role of the Public Health Physicians”.
3. Opening Session & Dignitaries
The Chairman of the Association, Prof. Y.A. Kuyinu, delivered the welcome address, emphasizing the urgency of strengthening global health systems under rising economic and social pressures. The Conference Chairman, Prof. Akin Osibogun, also provided an opening remark, followed by recognition of the efforts of the Organizing Committee led by Dr. Alex-Okoh.
The conference was attended by distinguished dignitaries including the First Lady of Lagos State, Dr (Mrs) Claudiana Ibijoke Sanwo-Olu, represented by Mrs. Wydad Mustafa; the Special Adviser to the Governor on Health, Dr Kemi Ogunyemi, represented by Dr. Moyosore Adejumo; the Honourable Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, represented by Dr Funmi Adeboje. The Permanent Secretaries of Lagos State Health Districts: Dr. Sola Pitan, Dr. Dayo Lajide, Dr. Abimbola Bowale Dr. Dayo Asiyanbi, Dr. Olufemi Omololu; Permanent Secretary Health Service Commission, Dr Cecilia Mabogunje; Permanent Secretary HEFAMAA, Dr Abiola Idowu; the Senior Special Assistant to the Governor on Health, Dr Toni Adeyemi, who all gave their goodwill messages.
4. Presentations and Plenary Sessions
Keynote presentations were delivered by Prof. Adesegun Fatusi alongside notable speakers such as Prof. Akin Osibogun, Dr Solomon Oyetoyan, Dr Sola Pitan, Dr Emmanuella Zamba of LASHMA (represented by Ms Adetoro), Dr Jadesola Idowu (AXA Mansard), and Dr Njide Ndili from PharmAccess (represented by Mr Sunday Mgbejume).
Three plenary sessions provided insights into key priority areas for improving health service delivery. The first session spotlighted advances in monitoring and evaluation of digital innovations across Lagos Health District I, HEFAMAA’s integration of digital tools in hospital accreditation, and ONCOOPADI’s technology-driven cancer care solutions. Discussions also addressed cultural and social barriers restricting digital tool adoption, as well as emerging concerns in telemedicine regulation, patient safety, and data privacy.
The second plenary session examined the expanding role of public health physicians in Nigeria’s health landscape. Speakers emphasized the discipline’s strengths in epidemiology, health management, and system-wide policy formulation, while highlighting current training gaps, particularly in health financing, budgeting, and resource allocation. Soft skills, relational competence, and strategic communication were identified as essential for enhancing the impact of public health physicians. The session also referenced past public health emergencies—such as the “My Pikin” contamination incident—to illustrate the importance of systems-level expertise in safeguarding population health. Health sector institutions are urged to increase the employment of public health physicians and formally recognize their essential contributions to system strengthening, preventive care, policy development and effective health governance.
The third session concentrated on sustaining health insurance enrolment in Lagos State. Participants underscored the need for continuous public awareness, simplified enrolment procedures, and targeted inclusion of indigent populations. Broader barriers to health access were also explored, including poor interoperability of digital systems, inadequate political will, limited financing for private facilities, and the persistent deficit of trust among healthcare provider ecosystem.
5. Abstract and Poster Presentations
A total of 25 abstracts were to be presented: 10 oral presentations and 15 poster presentations, however only 8 presenters showed up for the oral presentation. Awards were given to the top three oral and top three poster presentations in recognition of research quality and relevance. Titles of oral presentations are
- Adverse events following childhood immunization: A comparism of the knowledge and reporting practices among health care providers in public and private health facilities in a southwestern state
- Effect of digital intervention on sexual and reproductive health knowledge, behavior and service uptake among university youths in Lagos, Nigeria: a quasi-experimental study.
- Development and Impact of “90% Shield HPV Warrior”: A Novel Generative AI-based Game for Enhancing HPV Awareness and Prevention in Nigeria
- Mental Health Help-Seeking Behaviour among Nigerian Youths in Selected Communities in Lagos, Nigeria
- Empowering Adolescents for a Healthier Future: Evaluating the ‘Unplugged’ School-based Substance Use Prevention Curriculum in Lagos State, Nigeria
- Expanding Health Insurance Uptake through Digital Platforms: Lessons learnt from the Ilera-Eko Telehealth and Virtual booth initiative.
- State wide assessment of Primary health care infrastructure, service delivery and staffing in Lagos Nigeria
- Risk factors for non-communicable diseases among healthcare workers in primary healthcare centres in Mosan-Okunola LCDA Lagos state
6. Awards
Life time awards were given to Dr Salami, Prof Dorothy Ogunmekun and Prof Oyediran. Delegate awards were given to First Lady of Lagos State and Honourable Commissioner for Health. Other important dignitaries given awards were Prof Akin Osibogun, Prof Adesegun Fatusi and Dr Adesola Pitan.
7. Challenges Identified
Health Financing Weaknesses:
Heavy dependence on out-of-pocket spending (over 70%), low insurance coverage (below 20%), fragmented financing systems, inadequate protection for vulnerable groups, and difficulty accessing sustainable funding for private facilities.
Structural and System Coordination Gaps:
Weak public–private collaboration, siloed service delivery, underinvestment in primary healthcare, and reliance on infrastructure expansion without proportional attention to quality or outcomes.
Digital Health Fragmentation:
Poor interoperability between digital tools, weak political will, insufficient telemedicine regulation, data protection concerns, and limited alignment between digital innovators, HMOs, and government platforms.
Workforce Crisis:
Shortages of healthcare workers, migration of skilled professionals, inadequate financial and non-financial incentives, and limited training in health financing, policy, and management.
Economic Pressures:
Rising poverty rates, increased catastrophic health expenditure, declining purchasing power, and limited access to capital for health business expansion.
Governance, Trust, and Accountability Issues:
Low trust among healthcare practitioners, weak transparency in the use of sin taxes and public funds, insufficient accountability mechanisms, and inadequate community engagement in health-related decision-making.
8. Recommendations
Government of Nigeria:
Strengthen domestic health financing, improve accountability and transparent use of funds—including ring-fencing of sin taxes—and prioritize primary healthcare, disease prevention, and emergency preparedness.
Lagos State Ministry of Health:
Invest in PHC digital systems, regulate telemedicine effectively, enhance community engagement, and establish a Lagos Public Health Systematic Review and Evidence Hub to guide evidence-based decision-making.
Lagos State Health Management Agency (LASHMA):
Expand enrolment through simplified processes, improve interoperability between HMOs and providers, and strengthen financial protection to reduce catastrophic health expenditure.
Medical Education Bodies (NUC, MDCN, and Postgraduate Colleges):
Integrate health financing, budgeting, and policy development into residency training, recognize fellowship qualifications as adequate for post-doctoral-level expertise, and support measures to reduce brain drain.
Public Health Institutions:
Adopt digital innovations at scale, enhance monitoring and evaluation systems, and promote culturally sensitive approaches to digital health adoption.
Private Health Sector:
Encourage consolidation through mergers and acquisitions, invest in interoperable digital platforms aligned with NHIA systems, and strengthen collaborative relationships with government.
Employment of Public Health Physicians:
All health sector institutions are urged to increase the employment of public health physicians and formally recognize their essential contribution to system strengthening and effective health governance.
9. Conclusion
The conference reaffirmed the urgent need for stronger, more equitable, and sustainably financed health systems in Nigeria and Lagos State. Stakeholders emphasized that meaningful progress requires coordinated action, improved digital and financial systems, strengthened workforce capacity, trust-building, and evidence-based policy reforms. The APHPN Lagos Chapter remains committed to supporting these efforts through continued leadership, advocacy, and collaboration.
10. Acknowledgement
The association extends its profound gratitude to all its sponsors and attendees.
