Nigeria’s Federal Government, in partnership with international health organisations, has wrapped up the Global Evidence, Local Adaptation (GELA) project, a three-year initiative aimed at improving newborn and child healthcare through locally developed, evidence-based clinical guidelines.
The end-of-project dissemination meeting held in Abuja brought together key stakeholders from the Ministry of Health, Cochrane Nigeria, the Paediatric Association of Nigeria (PAN), and other health experts.
Speaking at the event, Dr. Amina, representing the Director of the Family Health Department, hailed the project as a major step toward reducing child mortality and enhancing Nigeria’s health system.
“The Ministry is committed to using science and collaboration to protect our most vulnerable populations,” she said.
Deputy Director of Research and Knowledge Management, Dr. Gbenga Ijaodole, stressed that the project aligns with Nigeria’s health reform goals. “We aim to save lives and improve healthcare delivery, especially at the primary level,” he added.
Launched in April 2022 and completed in August 2025, the GELA project was executed in Nigeria, Malawi, and South Africa, with Nigeria playing a lead role under the coordination of Cochrane Nigeria. It was funded by the European & Developing Countries Clinical Trials Partnership (EDCTP2) but operated independently.
Director of Cochrane Nigeria, Prof. Martin Meremikwu, noted the project’s unique approach. “Rather than blindly adopting international guidelines, we developed structured, context-specific clinical practices tailored to local realities,” he explained.
The model followed a six-stage approach—engage, synthesize, decide, share, learn, and evaluate—resulting in guidelines for over 27 health subtopics. Key focus areas included preeclampsia, infection prevention, and neonatal care for preterm and low-birth-weight babies.
President of PAN, Prof. Ekanem Ekure, praised the collaboration, stating: “These three years show the power of true partnership. We’re proud of the progress made in improving hand hygiene and care for preterm newborns.”
Senior researchers on the project, Dr. Moriam Chibuzor and Dr. Dachi Arikpo, emphasized that GELA has created a strong blueprint for future health policy-research collaborations, adding that the outcomes will also help shape Nigeria’s input into upcoming WHO guidelines.