Nigeria's Health Security Rises to 54% in 2023

At a public health symposium held in Abuja, Dr. Iziak Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, announced that Nigeria's health security has increased from 39% in 2017 to 54% in 2023. This improvement was highlighted during a joint external evaluation.

The symposium aimed to leverage global partnerships for better coordination in responding to future public health emergencies, drawing insights from the COVID-19 pandemic, which claimed approximately 7 million lives worldwide. Dr. Salako noted that the pandemic exposed vulnerabilities in global health systems, with the poorest and most marginalized populations bearing the heaviest burdens.

He emphasized the importance of collaboration and innovation in strengthening Nigeria's health security landscape, including the establishment of a national infectious disease surveillance system and the training of health workers. The Minister called for a whole-society approach to pandemic preparedness, involving the private sector, communities, and international partners.