Nigeria has renewed its call for stronger cooperation among West African countries and more community-focused healthcare systems, as the region battles rising public health problems.
The call was made by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during the 26th Ordinary Session of the ECOWAS Assembly of Health Ministers in Praia, Cape Verde.
In a statement issued by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Press & Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Salako warned that health systems in the region are under pressure due to issues like maternal and child deaths, poor access to care, and the brain drain of health workers to Western countries.
“Our systems are under strain,” the Minister said. “But amid these challenges, there are opportunities to rethink, reimagine, and rebuild our healthcare in ways that focus on people and communities.”
Dr. Salako described the session’s theme, “Community Health Principles and Standards,” as a timely call back to the 1978 Alma-Ata Declaration, which promotes primary healthcare for all. He urged West African countries to move away from disjointed responses and focus on equity-driven, integrated systems.
The Minister also outlined Nigeria’s progress under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. He cited the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which aims to upgrade 17,000 primary health centres by 2027. So far, around 50,000 frontline workers have been trained, with a goal of reaching 120,000.
In a move to reduce reliance on foreign aid, Dr. Salako revealed that Nigeria has allocated $200 million in domestic funding to sustain HIV, TB, and malaria programmes. He added that a new Presidential Executive Order will remove tariffs on medical inputs to support local drug production.
“Health is not just a national issue; it is regional and global,” he said. “If everyone is not safe, nobody is safe.”
The Minister reaffirmed Nigeria’s backing of ECOWAS Vision 2050 and highlighted the new policy that grants financial autonomy to local governments to better manage primary healthcare services.
Dr. Salako urged fellow ministers to go beyond speeches and take decisive action. “Let this Assembly be remembered not only for dialogue, but for purpose, vision, and action,” he said.
The conference brought together health ministers across the ECOWAS region to discuss joint strategies to improve healthcare delivery and resilience.
