Health sector stakeholders have called for legislative and policy reforms to strengthen the country’s health security system,Daily Trust reports.
The call was made during a citizen-led policy dialogue on health security legislation and financing in Nigeria, organized by the Health Sector Reform Coalition (HSRC) in Abuja.
In a communiqué issued after the dialogue, participants acknowledged progress in establishing health security infrastructure, such as the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) and the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS). However, they identified gaps in institutional coordination and financing that must be addressed.
Stakeholders emphasized the need for legislative measures and accountability frameworks to close these gaps and improve Nigeria’s preparedness for public health threats. Proposed solutions include the passage of key bills, such as the Public Health Emergency Bill, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (Amendment) Bill, the Health Security Accountability Framework, and others like the Animal Control Amendment Bill and the Quarantine Act Repeal and Re-enactment Bill.
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State governments were also urged to establish state-level centers for disease control and align their health security efforts with national objectives.
Dr. Mohammad Lecky, Chairman of the HSRC, highlighted the importance of a systematic approach to managing disease outbreaks and emergencies. “We must, as a nation, have the ability to protect ourselves from health threats—whether they are disease outbreaks or natural and manmade disasters. It is imperative to prevent, detect, and respond effectively, prioritizing health security as a national security issue to safeguard public health, the economy, and national safety,” he said.
Ademuyiwa Damilola, Program Director of the Legislative Initiative for Sustainable Development (LISDEL), stressed the need for dedicated funding for health threat prevention and detection. He noted that the accountability framework is designed to ensure the efficient use of resources for health security.
Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, represented by Dr. Nneka Orji, affirmed that the current administration’s “Renewed Hope Agenda” prioritizes public health preparedness and health security. “Our goal is to not only build on the work of the previous administration but to strengthen emergency preparedness through a holistic, cross-sectoral approach,” he stated.
Special Advisor to the President on Health, Dr. Salma Anas, represented by Dr. Ahmed Baba, emphasized that resilient health security depends on decentralized and well-resourced primary healthcare systems.
