The Federal Government has restated its commitment to promoting preventive healthcare and encouraging healthy living among Nigerians.
In a statement by the Deputy Director and Head of Information at the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Alaba Balogun, Wednesday in Abuja to mark the 2025 National Health Promotion Day.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, who was represented by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, mni, said health promotion is key to achieving universal health coverage, reducing disease burden, and improving national productivity.
This year’s event has the theme “Health Promotion: The Catalyst for Sustainable Health and Well-being of Nigerians 2.0” and the slogan “Promoting Healthy Choices for Healthy Lifestyles.”
“Our slogan is a call to action for every Nigerian to make informed decisions about what we eat, how we live, and how we care for our environment,” Pate said.
He explained that the government is focusing more on preventive care because many life-threatening illnesses such as hypertension, diabetes, and other non-communicable diseases can be avoided through lifestyle changes and community awareness.
According to him, health promotion empowers people with knowledge and positive behaviour, particularly women, children, adolescents, and the elderly. He added that prevention is more cost-effective than treatment, saying, “For every ₦1 invested in prevention, the country saves ₦6 in treatment costs.”
Pate said Nigeria became the first country in the world to institutionalize the National Health Promotion Day on October 29, 2024, showing leadership in public health and preventive medicine.
He added that the “2.0” version of the theme reflects the government’s adoption of digital tools such as mobile health apps, telemedicine platforms, and SMS awareness campaigns to reach underserved populations with accurate health information.
In her remarks, the Director of Family Health, Dr. Binyerem Ukaire, said preventive healthcare is one of the major pillars of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda.
She described health promotion as a sustainable and affordable strategy to reduce diseases, improve quality of life, and support national development.
Dr. Ukaire called on Nigerians to live healthier lives by making good choices about diet, exercise, hygiene, and environmental sanitation. She also urged schools, workplaces, and community groups to promote preventive health practices.
Activities lined up for the 2025 National Health Promotion Day include health talks, road shows, community sensitization, fitness exercises, nutrition counselling, and free health screenings.
