By Sola Ogundipe
To improve health outcomes and strengthen accountability in Lagos State, a coalition of government stakeholders, Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and others have been enjoined to harmonise individual efforts by building bridges and synergies rather than working in fragmented silos.
At a two-day strategic review of health sector work plans in Lagos , participants called for a renewed commitment to collaboration, transparency, and alignment among the coalition's stakeholders towards institutionalising accountability and driving policy reform in the Lagos State health sector.
The review was convened by the Lagos Accountability Mechanism for Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health Coalition (LASAM) which includes Lagos Civil Society Participation for Development (LACSOP) and the Public Health Sustainable Advocacy Initiative (PHSAI).
It was put together in collaboration with EngenderHealth-led Consortium partners - the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), the Center for Communication & Sexual Impact (CCSI), and the International Society for Media in Public Health (ISMPH).
Speaking during the opening, the Director, Directorate of Family Health and Nutrition at the Lagos State Ministry of Health, Dr. Folasade Oludara, emphasised the inclusive and far-reaching impact of the accountability mechanism, even as she stressed the need to strengthen health systems and promote accountability across the state.
“This mechanism is designed to put everybody on their toes. It’s not just about government, it involves the community we’re providing services to the CSOs, and our development partners. Everyone is being checked, and everyone’s work is being monitored.”
Oludara highlighted the importance of collaboration and transparency in improving health outcomes, particularly in the areas of Primary Health Care (PHC) and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health plus Nutrition (RMNCAH+N), noting that the accountability framework ensures that all stakeholders - government agencies, service providers, and advocacy groups - are held to the same standard of performance and responsibility.
Oludara’s endorsement underscores the Lagos State Government’s commitment to inclusive governance and collaborative health planning, and ensuring that every actor in the health space contributes meaningfully to the state’s development goals.
The call came as part of a broader initiative led by EngenderHealth and its consortium partners to harmonise efforts, align priorities, and foster sustainable improvements in Lagos State’s health sector. The project, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, is being implemented in Lagos, Kaduna, and Kano States, with a focus on advocacy, accountability, and policy reform.
Stanley Osai, Grant and Partnership Lead for EngenderHealth, emphasised the need for unified action.
“This event is about harmonizing our efforts. We’ve observed that many coalitions are working in silos, and this review is designed to bring everyone together under a shared vision for health accountability.
“Funding is a critical gap. While some groups have made commendable sacrifices, we need to consolidate efforts and plan for sustainability beyond the life of the project,” Osai noted.
He added that the consortium is working closely with LASAM and other partners to ensure that civil society efforts align with the state’s health agenda, rather than operating independently of government plans.
The initiative forms part of a broader advocacy and accountability initiative funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, aimed at improving Primary Health Care (PHC) and Reproductive, Maternal, Newborn, Child and Adolescent Health (RMNCAH) services across Lagos, Kaduna, and Kano States. The project, which began in late 2024, is expected to run through early 2028.
On his part, the Director of Programmes for the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), Mr. Ademuyiwa Oluwadamilola, observed that as a key partner in the EngenderHealth-led Consortium, LISDEL is actively involved in a project aimed at strengthening accountability and advocacy in the health sector, particularly within primary health care.
The initiative, he stated, currently being implemented in Lagos State, seeks to unify civil society organizations (CSOs) working in health to drive more coordinated and impactful outcomes.
According to Oluwadamilola, EngenderHealth’s support is instrumental in bringing together diverse CSO coalitions that have long operated in fragmented silos. The goal is to foster collaboration and ensure that advocacy efforts are aligned with the state’s health priorities.
“These activities are very key in driving accountability and advocacy to decision makers and policy makers in the state,” he said. “They help align resources and policy implementation with the goal of improving health care development.”
Oluwadamilola observed that many of the activities presented by different coalitions were strikingly similar, indicating a shared vision and common objectives across the board which presents a unique opportunity to harmonize efforts and pool resources for greater efficiency and impact.
“My expectation is to see these coalitions work more seamlessly together. We don’t want to work in silos anymore. We want to avoid duplicating efforts and instead focus on achieving quality results with the resources available.”
He stressed the importance of aligning priorities among CSOs and consortium partners to support the Lagos State Government in its mission to improve primary health care delivery and overall health outcomes.
Participants engaged in group work and presentations led by the Advocacy, Evidence, and Knowledge Management & Communication (KMC) teams, identifying priority areas and proposing integrated strategies to enhance collaboration and impact.
The plenary sessions addressed critical issues including development of advocacy strategies aligned with EngenderHealth’s primary outcomes; adaptation and implementation of RMNCAH+N and PHC policies.
Others include budgetary allocation and release for health programmes, strengthening accountability mechanisms, as well as Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) and HOPE Project tracking
The review concluded with a renewed commitment to collaboration, transparency, and alignment with state health priorities. With active participation from government MDAs and civil society, the event marked a significant step toward institutionalizing accountability and driving policy reform in Lagos State’s health sector.
