Health Minister Pate Calls for Sustained Gains from IMPACT Project

Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, called on state and local governments to sustain the achievements of the World Bank-supported IMPACT Project during its end-of-project evaluation at the 2026 Joint Annual Review of the health sector in Abuja. The IMPACT Project, implemented by the National Primary Health Care Development Agency and the National Malaria Elimination Programme, aimed to enhance immunisation, malaria control, and healthcare delivery across 30 states and the Federal Capital Territory.

Pate emphasized the importance of political commitment, effective coordination, and sustained investment to preserve the project's gains. Dr Muyi Aina, Executive Director of NPHCDA, reported that over 2,500 primary healthcare centres were upgraded, and 200 million vaccine doses were financed from 2023 to 2025.

Dr Amina Abdul-One Mohammed noted a decline in under-five mortality from 132 to 90 deaths per 1,000 live births. Dr Nnenna Ogbulafor reported a drop in malaria prevalence from 27 to 15.2 percent, advocating for continued investment in malaria prevention.