The Federal Government is set to strengthen healthcare delivery across Nigeria’s 774 Local Government Areas through collaboration with UbuntuCare Africa, a digital primary healthcare platform designed to connect underserved communities with healthcare providers and essential health services.
The initiative is expected to complement the government’s ongoing efforts to strengthen primary healthcare and advance Universal Health Coverage (UHC) by expanding access to healthcare information, consultations, referrals and follow-up services at the grassroots.
UbuntuCare Africa, which recently launched in Nigeria, said its model combines digital technology with a community-based healthcare network to address barriers such as distance, affordability, limited infrastructure and inadequate internet access.
The platform provides toll-free first-contact healthcare support, nurse-led triage, doctor-led teleconsultations, basic laboratory services, access to essential medicines, referrals and follow-up care.
It also connects users with a network of pre-screened healthcare providers, including clinics, hospitals, licensed pharmacies and Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs), enabling patients to transition from digital health guidance to physical treatment and continued care.
According to the organisation, the platform is built around the African philosophy of Ubuntu, which emphasises shared humanity and collective wellbeing.
It said the system combines digital triage, nurse-led support, telemedicine, biometric-enabled health identification and verified provider access to make healthcare more accessible to Nigerians regardless of their location or income level.
A major feature of the initiative is its 24-hour toll-free multilingual health support service, which is designed to provide first-contact healthcare guidance to people without smartphones, internet connectivity or mobile data.
The service is expected to particularly benefit rural residents, women, older persons, farmers, traders, artisans and other groups that face difficulties accessing conventional healthcare facilities.
UbuntuCare also offers flexible subscription models, including daily contribution options, to enable households in the informal sector to manage healthcare expenses in line with their income patterns.
Speaking on the initiative, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of UbuntuCare Africa, Chukwunonimem Michael Ike, said the platform was developed to help bridge persistent gaps in healthcare access through technology and community partnerships.
“Nigeria has made significant investments in strengthening primary healthcare, but millions of people still face barriers in accessing timely and affordable care,” Ike said.
He explained that UbuntuCare was designed to complement existing healthcare structures by connecting citizens to trusted providers and helping them navigate the health system more easily, regardless of where they live.
The organisation said its approach is intended to support preventive healthcare, early diagnosis, continuity of treatment and increased utilisation of healthcare services at the local level.
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UbuntuCare Africa said it aims to contribute to a healthcare system where access to quality primary healthcare is not determined by geography, social status, internet connectivity or income.
It is also positioning itself as an infrastructure partner for patients, healthcare professionals, pharmacies, health insurers, development organisations, governments and private-sector stakeholders seeking to improve healthcare access, utilisation and outcomes.
The platform is led by Ike and Dr. Jemchang Yildam Fabong, whose combined expertise spans technology architecture, digital transformation, inclusive finance, health insurance technology, clinical medicine, health financing, healthcare administration and Universal Health Coverage implementation.
The organisation said it would continue working with healthcare providers, community stakeholders and relevant institutions to strengthen last-mile healthcare delivery and support efforts to ensure that Nigerians can access quality and affordable healthcare closer to where they live and work.
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