Dr. Adaeze Oreh is an accomplished public health expert and transformative leader, currently serving as the Honourable Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, Nigeria. With a distinguished career dedicated to advancing healthcare access and policy, she has consistently championed the needs of underserved communities, working to ensure equitable healthcare delivery across Nigeria.
Her expertise spans public health policy, healthcare reform, and community advocacy, underpinned by a robust educational background. She holds a Bachelor of Medicine and Surgery (MBBS) from the University of Nigeria, Nsukka, a Master of Science in International Health Management from Imperial College London, and a Master of Science in Public Health from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine. She is currently pursuing doctoral research at the University of Groningen, Netherlands.
Her leadership trajectory includes her previous role as the Country Director of Planning, Research, and Statistics at the National Blood Service Commission, where she spearheaded pivotal projects to improve blood safety and availability in Nigeria. She played a key role in advocating for the passage of the National Blood Service Commission Act 2021 and the implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF), which expanded access to healthcare for vulnerable populations.
Dr. Oreh is a recognized global health leader, earning accolades such as the Aspen Institute’s New Voices Fellowship, the Amujae Leaders Initiative, and the Kofi Annan Fellowship for Global Health Leadership. She has also been awarded Best Poster Prizes at international conferences, further underscoring her expertise in the healthcare sector. Her scholarly contributions include co-authoring key publications on blood access and sickle cell disease in sub-Saharan Africa.
Beyond her professional accomplishments, Dr. Oreh is deeply committed to social impact and philanthropy. She serves on the advisory boards of several organizations focused on health and community development, including The Mansaray Foundation, the Centre for Family Health Initiative, and the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. She is also the founder and CEO of the Kaibeya Care Foundation Africa, through which she empowers vulnerable populations across the continent.

Dr. Oreh’s philosophy centers on honesty, fairness, empathy, innovation, and excellence, principles that guide her work to transform healthcare systems and improve lives. As a dynamic speaker and thought leader, she is frequently invited to address key issues in public health, women’s health, and global development.
Dr. Oreh’s enduring dedication to healthcare reform and her continuous efforts to empower underserved communities ensure that her legacy as a transformative leader in Nigerian healthcare is firmly established.
In this interview with Funke Babs-Kufeji, Dr. Oreh speaks abouther vision for the future of healthcare in Nigeria, the importance of leadership in the fight for equitable health, and how she balances her personal life with her trailblazing career.
Dr. Oreh, your career is deeply rooted in public health, leadership, and service to underserved communities. Can you take us on a journey through your career and share what motivated you to pursue this path?
During my early forays in the clinical wards as a medical student, I was drawn to the medical specialty of cardiology. I was enchanted by how the heart works, and visualized myself as a pioneer who would work on developing innovative devices that addressed heart failure and congenital heart defects in newborns and young children. I honestly believed that I had my future career all mapped out. However, by the time I had spent more years of clinical training on the hospital wards, certain observations had begun to stand out which left me feeling uncomfortable. These were the differences I noticed in patients of different socioeconomic classes, educational levels, and those who lived in rural areas compared to those from the cities. That introduction to health inequities is the reason why I deviated from cardiology to pursue a career in public health primarily to help close gaps in access to quality healthcare for underserved communities.

As someone who has held significant positions both in Nigeria and internationally, how have your educational experiences in the UK and Netherlands shaped your approach to healthcare reform in Nigeria?
My experiences over the years and exposure to global health systems have engendered a bold, transformational approach to healthcare reform which is community-oriented but steeped in collaborative decision-making. As an advocate for the empowerment of underserved communities, this means actively seeking out community voices from populations that are often not projected, to ensure that their perspectives weigh in on our policymaking.
You’ve been a driving force behind the passage of the National Blood Service Commission Act 2021. What does this achievement mean for Nigeria’s healthcare system, and how will it impact blood service accessibility in the country?
The journey to the passage of the National Blood Service Commission Act 2021 on the 29th of July 2021 was a tumultuous, decade-long expedition, and clear testament to the importance of grit, persistence, and committed collaboration. Oftentimes, people are amazed that a country like Nigeria that has provided varying degrees of blood services as part of patient care, had no law protecting patients from exploitative practices that can endanger public health. This legislative framework has enormous implications for ensuring that blood services are more sustainably funded, and services can be strengthened nationwide. Meaning that blood for transfusion can be safely screened, protecting patients from inadvertently being infected with HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C and syphilis; and hard-to-reach communities can have access to safe blood necessary to save the lives of women and children, who form the majority of transfusion recipients in our environment.

The implementation of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) has been a milestone in improving healthcare access. Can you walk us through how you played a role in this initiative and the challenges you faced in ensuring its success?
In 2016, I decided to become more intentional about lending my advocacy voice to broader health issues beyond blood safety in Nigeria. Around this time, there was considerable public interest in the full implementation of the National Health Act 2014. To do this, I started actively writing opinion editorials calling for health systems reform and universal health coverage (UHC), and these were published nationally. I teamed up with advocacy groups such as Nigeria Health Watch, lending my advocacy voice to citizen dialogues, public hearings, and meetings with parliamentarians actively pushing for Nigeria to take a clear stance towards UHC. Unsurprisingly, because of the significant financial commitment required, our advocacy met with clear resistance and push-back. However, the strength of our collective citizen voices and the international interest in engendered meant that those calls could not be silenced. This led to the actualization of the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) which has transformed the delivery of primary healthcare and financial coverage for vulnerable and the wider population in Nigeria; thus, taking us closer to our goals for universal health coverage and improved health and wellbeing.
You’ve also secured billions of Naira in funding for healthcare services, which has positively impacted millions of Nigerians. What strategies did you employ to secure such funding, and how do you ensure that these funds are effectively allocated to the communities?

Bearing in mind that these funds are earmarked for transformational health initiatives, the goal is ‘more lives saved for every kobo spent.’ By communicating the potential impact of investing resources on health, demonstrating judicious use of funds, and clearly displaying the outcomes and impact, this encourages trust, and attracts more funding opportunities.
As the Commissioner for Health in Rivers State, you are shaping healthcare policies at the state level. What are your top three priorities for the state’s healthcare system, and how do you plan to achieve them?
Our top 3 priorities in Governor Fubara’s #Health4AllRivers agenda for healthcare in Rivers State are improving financial and geographic access to healthcare across the state, addressing gaps in the health workforce and health data/information, and enhancing domestic resource mobilization all under an umbrella of improved healthcare leadership and governance. We seek to achieve these goals through prioritizing healthcare delivery in the retinue of responsibilities of the state, attracting respectful and result-oriented partnerships, and utilizing strategies that attract and retain a skilled workforce that is the life-force behind any robust and resilient health system. One of the main tasks of State Commissioners for Health is to convince the Chief Executive of the importance of healthcare. That has never been my challenge with Governor Siminalayi Fubara, as right from the get-go, he has been a champion of accessible community-oriented healthcare, even from the earliest moments when he communicated this to the people of Rivers State during his inaugural address.
Your leadership philosophy emphasizes honesty, fairness, empathy, innovation, and excellence. How do you balance these values with the realities of public service, especially in a field as complex as healthcare?
I joined the federal public sector in 2009, coordinating blood services for three Northern States (FCT, Niger, and Nasarawa), and so, for the past 16 years I have navigated the public sector. At the time of my entry, I was appointed to lead a project borne out of a bilateral partnership between the Federal Government of Nigeria and the US government, and the work was largely development-partner driven. That imbibed a very keen sense of performance, teamwork, innovation, and excellence in my approach to public service. Additionally, some of my core values include honesty, fairness, and empathy; and so, this has substantially aided me in navigating community engagement. Despite the complexity of healthcare, people are at its heart; and respond positively when in today’s world where often words can be thrown carelessly without thought or careful consideration, they trust that you say what you mean, and you mean what you say. Also, being able to relate to people’s life experiences and valuing the input and perspectives of communities in my policy development and implementation has also served me enormously over time.
As a champion for women’s health, what are the key barriers that women in Nigeria face when accessing healthcare, and what steps do you think need to be taken to address them?
Some of these barriers include limited access to finances, information, and even respectful care at some health facilities. Deliberate efforts to educate and financially empower women can greatly reduce the obstacles they can face when accessing healthcare. One of my contributions in championing women’s health was my involvement in the Gender in Health Technical Working Group of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. This TWG was focused on addressing these barriers which women face when accessing healthcare and sharing recommendations with facilities and communities nationwide on how best to tackle them.
You’re also a member of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe Motherhood. How do you see the intersection of women’s health and overall public health reform in Nigeria? What initiatives are you working on to improve maternal health outcomes?

Nigeria is currently placed as one of countries with the highest maternal mortality rates globally. This largely informed the national health reform driven by the Honourable Coordinating Minister for Health & Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate. As members of the Nigeria Health Commissioners Forum, we worked with the Coordinating Minister and his team to co-design, co-create and co-implement a reform that cuts across the three levels of healthcare – primary, secondary, and tertiary to drastically address poor maternal health outcomes and improve survival rates in even the most remote communities. This aligns with our focus in Rivers State, and I was delighted to be present at the national launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative (MAMII) in Abuja in November 2024, and our teams are keen to drive its implementation in our state. Maternal death is a pressing global health issue today, with countries like Nigeria contributing upwards of a quarter of those deaths. Therefore, reforms hinged on leveraging existing health system structures to curb maternal deaths are more likely to lead to sustainable improvements in maternal survival rates. Thus, putting an appreciable dent on the number of women who die each year from pregnancy and childbirth.
What role do you see for women in leadership within the healthcare sector, especially given your own inspiring journey? How can young women aspiring to enter healthcare leadership follow in your footsteps?
There is enormous potential for women in leadership within the health sector. However, gaps remain. Even though women constitute a majority of the health workforce, their presence in leadership at the higher levels remains sub-optimal. For example, less than 2% of the Health Commissioners are female, and looking at the headship of health institutions in Nigeria, these gender gaps are evident.
For young women aspiring to healthcare leadership, I would say that very often, opportunities show up as problems to be solved. Take them on, and realise that you will either succeed, or you will learn. No one started out their career or leadership as an expert. You may never get another chance to prove yourself.
You have had the opportunity to engage with global health platforms such as the Aspen Institute and the Kofi Annan Fellowship for Global Health Leadership. How have these experiences shaped your perspective on the challenges and opportunities in healthcare on the global stage?
One of the immense benefits of engaging on global health platforms has been the heightened awareness of the role that indigenous, people-led approaches can have in transforming developmental challenges. It has therefore strengthened my resolve to engage deeply and respectfully with community systems to address healthcare issues and bring about positive change.
Beyond your professional roles, your philanthropic efforts and involvement with various health-related organizations are truly remarkable. Can you share how these initiatives complement your official duties and the impact they have on vulnerable populations?
I grew up observing my parents actively engage in philanthropic efforts, and so this created a sense of awareness of one’s innate ability to reach out to the less privileged around us. In 2017, my work as a Family Medicine physician in community hospitals motivated my establishment of Kaibeya Care Foundation Africa focusing on community health and welfare. The foundation relies on collaborations with Programme-implementing foundations to carry out activities and complement my official duties by enabling me reach out to vulnerable populations in ways that may be beyond the mandate of my official role.
Several of our most impactful projects have included funding cancer care for children, medical outreaches in internally displaced persons (IDP) camps, repairs and equipping of community primary and secondary schools in Northern Nigeria, and most recently, our children and widows outreach at Ndoni, Rivers State, and awarding scholarships in Medicine & Surgery to deserving female scholars.
As someone who has worked tirelessly to bring about policy change, what advice would you give to young professionals looking to make a difference in public health and leadership roles?
My advice would be that as a young professional, never allow opportunities to meet you unprepared. Actively seek out opportunities for self-improvement and professional development, and always be open to learning new things, new ways, and new approaches, so that innovation becomes a part of you. Also, be committed to delivering excellent work, despite the challenges which you will undoubtedly face, and regardless of how ‘lowly’ the task may seem.
You’ve achieved so much in your career already, but what drives you to keep pushing for progress in healthcare every day?
Every day, I am reminded that my career goes way beyond me as a person but is an opportunity to reach out and inclusively improve the lives and wellbeing of people in our communities. It is a sense of responsibility that I have carried in every office that I have been privileged to occupy and is my motivation to push for better every single day. ‘Better’ to me means more lives saved, and more individuals and families that have improved health, wellbeing and quality of life.
Finally, what legacy would you like to leave behind in the healthcare sector, and what do you hope people will remember most about your work?
When I first took on this role, I was faced with some grave health indices, but I was thrilled to have some great health teams in-state. Together, we have concertedly rallied around the #Health4AllRivers agenda and have recorded some truly remarkable outcomes over the past 19 months. We have seen reductions in maternal deaths, improvements in health facility attendance, childbirths overseen by skilled health providers, and increases in immunization coverage, even being recognized in December by UNICEF, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Aliko Dangote Foundation, and National Primary Healthcare Development Agency as the leading state for primary healthcare delivery in the South-South for the second year in a row, and the second nationally. Our secondary level hospitals are being revamped, 24/7 emergency services revived, exponential growth in partnerships, and our state teaching hospital for the first time being fully accredited for postgraduate training in myriad specialty areas.
Over the next two years, we can completely reverse the poor indices around maternal, newborn, and child health; and improve healthcare worker retention through motivated and committed skilled personnel in-country. Looking ahead, in the longer term, my vision for healthcare in Rivers State and Nigeria is improved health insurance coverage and access, and reduced out-of-pocket payments that impoverish our people. There is substantial distrust of the public for our health system, and if we can rebuild that trust through robust, responsive, and resilient health systems, Rivers State and indeed Nigeria can become the havens and medical tourism destinations of choice that they could be, within the continent, and even globally. We have been blessed with the seeds; we just need to intentionally water and nurture them with the intention of seeing our health sector bloom.