Nigeria has called for greater equity in global pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. The country urged the international community to ensure fair access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics, as well as sustainable financing for developing countries. This call was made by Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr Iziaq Adekunle Salako, on behalf of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu at the High-Level Meeting on Pandemic Prevention, Preparedness and Response.
The meeting was held on the sidelines of the 81st United Nations General Assembly in New York. Salako welcomed the adoption of the political declaration from the meeting, describing it as an opportunity to renew global commitment to pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. He emphasized that effective preparedness must be built around strong public health systems capable of preventing, detecting and controlling infectious threats before they escalate into emergencies.
Salako highlighted Nigeria's efforts to strengthen its public health systems over the past decade. The country has expanded nationwide digital surveillance, institutionalized the 7-1-7 approach, enhanced genomic sequencing capacity and improved multi-hazard preparedness. Additionally, Nigeria's public health laboratory network now covers all 36 states, while Public Health Emergency Operations Centres support coordinated responses to outbreaks.
The country's Joint External Evaluation score for health security has improved from 39 per cent in 2017 to 54 per cent in 2023. Nigeria is also advancing implementation of the One Health approach, antimicrobial resistance governance and infection prevention and control programmes across the states. The emergency workforce at national and sub-national levels is being strengthened.
Salako identified five national priorities for strengthening pandemic preparedness. These include strengthening national ownership, governance and legal preparedness; putting prevention at the centre of preparedness; building integrated, resilient and One Health systems; advancing equitable access, financing and African manufacturing; and deepening regional and global solidarity and accountability.
The Minister urged the international community to place equity at the centre of pandemic prevention, preparedness and response. He emphasized that pathogen access must be matched by fair, timely and predictable benefit sharing, including vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics. Financing must be sustainable and rapidly accessible, especially for low and middle-income countries.
Nigeria will host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in December. The meeting will provide an opportunity to accelerate measurable One Health action and advance the priorities of low- and middle-income countries. Salako reaffirmed Nigeria's commitment to strengthening national and regional capacity to prevent, detect and respond to public health threats.
Key points
- Nigeria urges international community to ensure fair access to vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics.
- The country has strengthened its public health systems over the past decade.
- Nigeria will host the fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance in December.
