The Federal Capital Territory Administration (FCTA) has praised the National Health Fellows Programme for its significant contribution to strengthening healthcare services across the territory, highlighting its role in improving workforce capacity, data management, and community-level service delivery.
Dr Adedolapo Fasawe, Mandate Secretary of the FCT Health Services and Environment Secretariat, made the commendation on Monday in Abuja during interviews for the second cohort of National Health Fellows. She explained that the programme has played a critical role in improving health planning through effective data collection and utilisation, while addressing gaps in primary healthcare delivery.
Dr Fasawe added that the fellows, who are selected from within the communities they serve, are familiar with local terrain, languages, and health-seeking behaviours, which enhances their impact and acceptance.
“They know the terrain, the language and the health-seeking behaviour of the people. That has helped us achieve better results,” she said.
The programme also supports task shifting, allowing fellows to carry out responsibilities traditionally handled by doctors, matrons or senior supervisors.
“We now know what more they can do. Some of the tasks we used to wait for doctors or senior officers to do are now being allocated to the fellows,” Dr Fasawe noted.
Babagana Adam, Permanent Secretary of the Health Services and Environment Secretariat, urged for an expansion of the initiative, saying six fellows—one per area council—are insufficient for the territory’s needs.
“Abuja Municipal Area Council alone is vast in land and population. Six fellows cannot adequately cover our 62 wards. We are advocating for at least 18 fellows to ensure wider coverage and greater impact,” he explained.
Adam also highlighted progress in upgrading primary healthcare centres, noting that more than 300 PHCs operate across the FCT, with improvements ongoing through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund. On health insurance, he added that the territory has exceeded its enrolment target, registering over 36,000 residents against a projected 25,000.
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The World Health Organization (WHO) Team Lead for Health Systems and Services, Dr Mary Brentwell, commended the transparent selection process for the programme.
“The panel is balanced, the questions are fair, and the candidates have diverse skill sets that can contribute meaningfully to the health sector,” she said.
Dr Teresa Ekaete Nwachukwu, Acting Director of Health Planning, Research and Statistics and FCT SWAP Desk Officer, explained that candidates are chosen strictly on merit, without requiring political influence or connections.
“For each local government, one fellow will eventually be selected. In the FCT, we have six area councils, so six fellows will emerge from 18 shortlisted candidates,” she said.
The fellows are expected to identify challenges in primary healthcare delivery, collect and analyse data, and liaise with area councils, state and national authorities to ensure timely solutions.
One candidate, Saidu Bello Karshi from Abuja Municipal Area Council, described the interview as smooth and expressed optimism about succeeding in the selection process.
The interviews in Abuja form part of a nationwide effort to select the second batch of National Health Fellows, aimed at strengthening healthcare services at the community level.
