An assessment of Nigeria's health systems response to COVID-19

ABSTRACT

Objectives: This study aims to understand and report on selected health system interventions considered nationally and sub-nationally of particular significance both in terms of COVID-19 responses and in strengthening the health system for the future. Design: A review of published and grey literature, including journals, news/ media and official documents, was conducted from 1st December 2019 to 31st December 2020. The reviewers read and extracted relevant data using FACTIVA in a uniform data extraction template. Responses that related to service delivery were captured. Setting: The assessment considered responses at the national and two state levels Lagos and Enugu, representing the epicentre and a low COVID-19 burden centre. Inclusion criteria Documents and news that mentioned COVID-19 response, particularly service delivery aspects, were included in this review. Results: The identified interventions were mostly technical support targeted at health workers including training of about 17,000 health workers, supervising and engaging more health workers, upgrading laboratories and building new ones to improve screening and diagnosis, and motivation of health workforce with incentives. Furthermore, the influx of philanthropic contributions improved the data and information systems supply of medicines, medical products and non-pharmaceutical protective materials through local production. The presence of political will and the government's efforts in health system's response to COVID-19 facilitated these interventions. Conclusions: Interventions of state and non-state actors have strengthened the health systems to some extent. However, more needs to be done to sustain these gains and make the health system resilient to absorb unprecedented shocks.