The Healthcare Federation of Nigeria (HFN) and the Health Emergency Initiative (HEI) have inaugurated the Board of Trustees of the Medical Intervention Initiative for Healthcare Access (MIIHA), a collaborative initiative aimed at improving access to timely and affordable healthcare.

The initiative is designed to address financial and other barriers that prevent vulnerable and underserved Nigerians from obtaining essential medical care when needed.

The inaugural meeting brought together healthcare professionals, civil society leaders and other stakeholders committed to improving healthcare access.

Oladele Akinyemi, Chairman of the HEI Board, was appointed Chairman of the MIIHA Board of Trustees. Other members include Njide Ndili, President of HFN and Country Director of PharmAccess; Paschal Achunine, Executive Director of HEI; Dr Olayemi Dawodu, Managing Director of Cerba Lancet Nigeria; Dr Olusegun Ogboye; Deputy Corps Marshal (Rtd.) Hyginus Omeje; Aminu Tukur; Prof. Rayyan Mohamad Garba; Rev. Mathias Yashim; and Dr Olusegun Oyedokun.

Achunine said MIIHA would provide a platform for institutions and stakeholders to coordinate efforts towards improving healthcare access.

He said the initiative would focus on developing practical and sustainable interventions capable of responding to the healthcare needs of vulnerable Nigerians while strengthening collaboration across the health sector.

Akinyemi stressed the importance of strong governance and collaboration, saying the board would provide the leadership and oversight required to ensure that the initiative remained accountable and sustainable.

Ndili said healthcare access was not only about the availability of medical services but also whether people could afford and reach those services when required.

She said MIIHA would provide an opportunity to strengthen partnerships and develop interventions that placed the healthcare needs of vulnerable Nigerians at the centre.

At its inaugural meeting, the board committed to developing MIIHA as a collaborative platform that would complement existing government and healthcare systems while mobilising partnerships and resources.

It also began work on the strategic and technical framework that would guide implementation, with emphasis on accountability, sustainability and measurable impact.

The initiative is expected to strengthen partnerships across Nigeria’s health sector and support efforts to address financial barriers to essential healthcare.

HFN is a coalition of private healthcare sector stakeholders focused on supporting Universal Health Coverage through private-sector engagement, advocacy, capacity building and strategic partnerships.

HEI is a Nigerian non-profit organisation focused on improving access to timely healthcare for indigent and vulnerable people through emergency medical assistance, support for hospital bills, post-crash care and first-responder training.