PANDEMIC PREPAREDNESS: NIGERIA CALLS FOR STRONGER GLOBAL HEALTH RESPONSE
As the world prepares for the next global health emergency, Nigeria is calling for stronger and more equitable systems to detect outbreaks early, respond rapidly and ensure access to life-saving vaccines and other health tools.
Speaking at a high-level meeting on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York, Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Salako, says prevention remains central to Nigeria’s pandemic preparedness strategy.
Dr Salako, who represented President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, says Nigeria is strengthening disease surveillance through digital systems, genomic sequencing and a public health laboratory network across all 36 states.
He says emergency operations centres are coordinating responses to outbreaks including Lassa fever, cholera, diphtheria and meningitis, while the country expands its emergency workforce under a One Health approach.
Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation score has also risen from 39 percent in 2017 to 54 percent in 2023, with additional support coming through the World Bank’s 250-million-dollar Health Security Programme.
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