By Maryam Aminu
For many Nigerians, getting the right healthcare is not only about whether a hospital or health programme exists. It can also depend on how well doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists and other professionals work together when a patient needs care.
It is this gap in coordination that OneBarrow International Limited is seeking to tackle by bringing major national health associations and key stakeholders together for the 2026 National Health Equity Conference in Abuja.
The three-day conference, scheduled for October 13 to 15 at the Nigeria National Merit Award House, Maitama, will focus on the theme, “From Policy to Impact: Care Coordination as the Core Engine of Health Equity.”
Rather than another gathering centred mainly on policy discussions, the organisers said the conference would focus on how existing health policies can translate into better experiences and outcomes for patients, particularly people who are underserved.
OneBarrow is convening the conference in collaboration with major national health associations, creating a platform for healthcare professionals, government officials, private-sector leaders, development partners, civil society organisations, patient advocates and academics to discuss some of the challenges affecting the delivery of healthcare in Nigeria.
A key concern is the fragmentation of care, where patients may have to move between different healthcare providers and services without adequate coordination. The conference will therefore examine ways of improving collaboration across the healthcare system and making institutions more accountable for the quality of care delivered.
The organisers also plan to explore how digital feedback can be used to better understand patients’ experiences, identify weaknesses in service delivery and ensure that the voices of underserved communities are not lost in the system.
For OneBarrow’s Chief Executive Officer, Yemi Ajao, the challenge is no longer simply about having health policies in place, but ensuring that those policies make a difference where it matters most at the point where Nigerians receive care.
“Nigeria has strong health frameworks, but policies must turn into coordinated action at the point of care,” Ajao said.
He said bringing the various healthcare associations and private-sector partners to one table could help create a more responsive and accountable health system.
The conference is expected to feature the Honourable Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, as Chief Host. The Chairman of the House Committee on Health Services, Hon. Amos Gwamna Magaji, and the Honourable Minister of Education, Dr. Tunji Alausa, are also expected to participate.
Doctors, nurses, pharmacists, laboratory scientists, health administrators and other healthcare professionals are expected to join policymakers, legislators, development partners, civil society groups, patient advocates and representatives of academic institutions at the event.
OneBarrow said discussions at the conference will not end with the closing session, as participants are expected to produce a post-conference communiqué and an actionable roadmap outlining practical steps towards improving health equity and care coordination in Nigeria.
The initiative reflects OneBarrow’s broader focus on health equity, strategic partnerships and strengthening healthcare systems, with the organisation seeking to move the conversation from policy commitments to practical improvements that Nigerians can feel in the care they receive.
