Nigeria has taken a bold step towards tackling one of the most persistent challenges in its healthcare delivery system — unreliable electricity supply — with the launch of the first-ever #Power4Health National Stakeholders’ Dialogue.
The groundbreaking dialogue, convened by the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare with support from the Federal Ministry of Power, brought together a wide array of stakeholders to chart a sustainable path for powering health facilities across the nation. Among the participants was Dr. Adaeze Chidinma Oreh, who joined policymakers, legislators, regulators, development partners, and private sector leaders in exploring innovative solutions to Nigeria’s healthcare energy crisis.
Nigeria’s health facilities, from primary health centres in rural areas to tertiary hospitals in major cities, have long battled with erratic power supply. For decades, doctors, nurses, and midwives have relied on unreliable generators to carry out life-saving procedures, often at high costs. The consequences are dire: interrupted surgeries, spoiled vaccines, compromised diagnostic services, and preventable loss of lives. Experts at the dialogue emphasized that reliable energy is not a luxury but a lifeline. Without stable electricity, achieving universal health coverage and improved health outcomes for Nigerians will remain a distant goal.
Central to the discussions was the recognition that sustainable energy in healthcare requires more than ad-hoc fixes. Participants stressed the need for robust policy frameworks that prioritize reliable power in health facilities at both national and state levels. They also highlighted innovative financing mechanisms that would combine government resources, private sector investments, and development partner support to fund renewable energy projects. Stronger partnerships between the health and power sectors, alongside technology providers and investors, were identified as crucial. Above all, there was a call for a mindset shift, moving away from short-term diesel-powered solutions to long-term, clean, and cost-effective energy systems.
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The event was notable for the diversity of its participants. Representatives of the executive government, the National Assembly, state ministries of health and power, regulatory agencies, professional associations, development partners, media organizations, and private sector innovators in renewable energy were in attendance. This breadth of representation signaled a growing recognition that the health sector’s energy challenges cannot be solved in isolation. The interplay between health and power is too critical to ignore, and bridging the gap requires coordinated, multi-sectoral commitment.
As one of the key participants, Dr. Adaeze Oreh underscored the urgency of moving from dialogue to action. She noted that reliable power in health facilities is foundational for maternal and child health, emergency response, and routine medical care. “Every time a doctor performs surgery under torchlight or a nurse loses a vaccine stockpile due to lack of refrigeration, it is a reminder that power is a health issue,” she remarked. Her participation highlighted the role of health leaders in driving the advocacy for sustainable energy solutions that will improve patient outcomes and strengthen the health system.
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While optimism ran high at the dialogue, stakeholders acknowledged that execution remains the real test. Nigeria has a history of well-intentioned policies that falter at the implementation stage. For the Power4Health initiative to succeed, commitments made must translate into concrete projects, measurable outcomes, and long-term sustainability. The Federal Government, through the Health and Power Ministries, pledged to continue engaging with stakeholders to develop a clear roadmap. Development partners signaled readiness to support pilot projects, while private sector actors expressed interest in scalable investments.
