Ali Pate, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, says the federal government has intensified efforts to fortify health security infrastructure in response to ongoing global health challenges.

He said this on Monday in Abuja during the national dialogue on Nigeria’s pandemic fund grant application.

The pandemic fund, a collaborative initiative to strengthen pandemic prevention, preparedness, and response capacities in low—and middle-income countries, has amassed $2 billion in funding from various stakeholders.

Focusing on early warning systems, disease surveillance, laboratory infrastructure and enhancing public health and community workforce capacity, proposals must address priority areas while accommodating specific regional needs.

Mr Pate outlined the implementation of a sector-wide approach to enhance surveillance, detection and readiness for potential outbreaks, highlighting the establishment of the pandemic fund as part of Nigeria’s broader health sector reinforcement initiative.

Emphasising the nation’s commitment to self-reliance in health security, he stressed the importance of domestic investment alongside external support.

Furthermore, he emphasised transparency and accountability, outlining plans for regular health reports and public dialogue to ensure citizen engagement and oversight.

He said the comprehensive approach, endorsed at both federal and state levels, aimed to foster a unified response to safeguard Nigeria’s population against health threats.

The minister stressed the need for a unified and coordinated approach to health security, effectively leveraging available resources and expertise to address present and future challenges.

He underlined the need to learn from past pandemics like COVID-19 and underscored the importance of initiatives such as the pandemic plan in improving preparedness and response capabilities.

Mr Pate also stressed the significance of collaboration between national systems, development partners, and organisations like the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) to ensure sustainability in tackling health emergencies.

Farah Husain, the programme director of the Division of Global Health Protection, USCDC, recognised the importance of innovative financing mechanisms like the pandemic fund in driving results and reversing the trend of underfunding health security initiatives.

The WHO representative in Nigeria, Walter Mulombo, called for a unified approach and increased investment in health security measures to safeguard the population and mitigate future risks.

Mr Mulombo emphasised the role of collective action in ensuring a stronger and more effective response to health threats.

Jide Idris, the director general of the NCDC, said collective responsibility and shared commitment to navigate future health challenges are essential to ensuring the country’s preparedness and resilience.

Mr Idris highlighted the government’s commitment to prioritising health security, as evidenced by its inclusion in the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Programme (NHSRIP).

The pandemic fund was established in September 2022 and officially launched during a G20 meeting hosted by the World Bank.

It is the first multilateral financing mechanism dedicated to providing multi-year grants to help low- and middle-income countries better prepare for future pandemics.

The fund received 179 applications from 133 countries in its first call for proposals.

The first round of awards was granted in July 2023, totalling $338 million, which will leverage over $2 billion to help 37 countries strengthen their capacity to prevent, prepare for, and respond to pandemics.

Over 30 per cent of the grants allocated are for projects in sub-Saharan Africa, and over 75 per cent are in low and lower-middle-income countries.

(NAN)