In November, health professionals from Nigeria and beyond gathered in Abuja for APIN Public Health Initiatives’ second annual symposium, themed “Securing our Future: Strengthening Global Health Security in Nigeria”.
The event was aimed at examining challenges to health security in Nigeria and proposed solutions to address these issues, aligning national efforts with the global health security framework. Nigeria’s healthcare has had reasons to be alert with adequate security measures following the outbreaks of Mpox and Marburg this year and previous pandemics.
How Sustainable is Nigeria Health System
Focusing on global health security is vital for preventing pandemics and controlling the cross-border spread of infectious diseases. It also ensures protection for vulnerable populations, including the elderly, children, and those with weakened immune systems. Infectious diseases impose economic burdens on trade, tourism, and national stability, while a healthy workforce boosts productivity.
However, strong national systems are essential, as highlighted by Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu, WHO assistant director general for Health Emergency Intelligence and Surveillance Systems. He stressed that investing in and strengthening domestic health institutions fosters better crisis management and progress, drawing from his experience as NCDC DG.
Dr. Ihekweazu noted that Nigeria’s COVID-19 response benefited significantly from steps taken to upgrade the NCDC before the pandemic. Global health security hinges on local systems and effective local institutions are key. Without robust systems, like those built at the NCDC since 2016, Nigeria’s pandemic response would have been inadequate. Strengthening systems must extend beyond a few agencies to ensure resilience.
The State of Healthcare in Nigeria
Nigeria’s N1.2 trillion health budget for 2024—just 4.47% of total expenditure (or N1.5 trillion with related provisions like the Basic Health Care Provision Fund)—raises concerns about the country’s ability to build and sustain effective health systems for national health security. This allocation remains far below the 15% commitment of the Abuja Declaration. When a state government fails to integrate related health systems—such as detection, data collection, prevention, innovation, and logistics—into a cohesive framework, it cannot provide the unified efforts needed to address public health threats effectively.
Dr. Ihekweazu emphasised the need for governments to invest in domestic institutions to create a paradigm shift, ensuring Nigeria’s effective local health security that aligns with global health security efforts. The federal government must take the lead in investing in health systems. While foreign investments have been crucial in building our capacity to handle emergencies, our true strength will be measured by the investments we make ourselves.
While external partners can support it, Nigeria must lead its own health security efforts. The federal government, along with local health partners, must prioritize investments to strengthen health systems, which are the first line of defence against health threats. Strengthening these systems enhances a country’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to emergencies—whether it’s Mpox, Lassa fever, or an unknown future threat.
Effective planning and preparation are essential. With infectious disease outbreaks becoming more frequent and severe, a reactive mindset will hinder our ability to contribute to global health security.
