The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC) has disclosed that the country needs an average of N104.4 billion annually to implement its National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS 2.0). This plan is a five-year health security strategy covering 2025 to 2029, with an estimated total cost of N522 billion. The NCDC Director-General, Dr. Jide Idris, made this revelation on Monday.
According to Dr. Idris, the recently approved N10 billion emergency intervention funding by President Bola Tinubu represents approximately two per cent of the average annual cost of implementing NAPHS 2.0. He stressed that this allocation is inadequate to meet Nigeria's broader health security needs. The funding aims to strengthen preparedness against multiple epidemic-prone diseases, including Ebola, Lassa fever, and cholera.
The Global Preparedness Monitoring Board estimates that countries require between $1 and $2 per person annually to achieve an acceptable level of epidemic preparedness. Based on Nigeria's population of approximately 240 million, the country would require between $240 million and $480 million annually. Dr. Idris emphasized that sustained investment from the federal government, state governments, and development partners is necessary to bridge the funding gap.
Inadequate funding has been a major constraint to implementing Nigeria's first National Action Plan for Health Security. The new plan, NAPHS 2.0, is designed as a multisectoral, One Health, and whole-of-government initiative involving relevant ministries, departments, and agencies, as well as development partners and civil society organizations. The plan aims to strengthen Nigeria's capacity to prevent, detect, and respond to public health threats.
NAPHS 2.0 involves a collaborative approach to address public health challenges. The plan is expected to enhance the country's preparedness and response to epidemic-prone diseases. Dr. Idris noted that the N10 billion emergency intervention fund was released directly to NCDC and not allocated to the Presidential Task Force on Ebola.
The NCDC Director-General called for greater attention to sustainable and accountable financing of health security. He warned that inadequate investment in preparedness could expose the country to greater human, social, and economic losses when outbreaks occur. The country's health security is a critical aspect of its overall well-being, and adequate funding is essential to prevent and respond to public health threats.
The implementation of NAPHS 2.0 is crucial to protecting Nigerians against public health threats. The plan's success depends on sustained investment from various stakeholders, including the federal government, state governments, and development partners. The NCDC will continue to play a vital role in preventing, detecting, and responding to public health threats in Nigeria.
Key points
- Nigeria requires N104.4 billion annually to implement its National Action Plan for Health Security.
- The N10 billion emergency intervention funding represents approximately two per cent of the average annual cost of implementing NAPHS 2.0.
- Sustained investment from various stakeholders is necessary to bridge the funding gap and ensure the successful implementation of NAPHS 2.0.
