Nigeria has urged a shift towards health security sovereignty on the continent, advocating for African nations to diminish their dependence on international assistance and establish self-sufficient healthcare systems.
During a high-profile side event titled "Building Africa’s Health Security Sovereignty," held at the 39th Ordinary Session of the Assembly of Heads of State and Government of the African Union in Addis Ababa, Vice President Kashim Shettima made this call.
The initiative also marked the launch of the Africa Health Security and Sovereignty Initiative, a collaborative effort between Nigeria and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention aimed at attracting investments in developing health workforces, enhancing community health systems, and promoting sustainable immunization strategies.
In a statement from Stanley Nkwocha, President's Senior Special Assistant on Media and Communications (Office of the Vice President), Mr. Shettima emphasized the urgent need for Africa to enhance its internal capabilities to mitigate disruptions from global supply chain issues and changing international priorities.
He stated, "Our health security cannot remain subject to the uncertainties of distant supply chains or the shifting priorities of global panic," adding that simply enduring crises does not equate to effective strategy.
The Vice President pointed out that the COVID-19 pandemic laid bare the vulnerabilities faced by the continent as many nations struggled to obtain vaccines, vital medical supplies, and oxygen while wealthier countries turned their attention to local needs.
Shettima underscored the importance of considering health security a priority at both national and continental levels, noting that diseases and counterfeit drugs do not recognize borders. He advised that leadership should not be gauged by the duration of vulnerability but rather by intentional efforts to mitigate it.
In terms of Nigeria’s healthcare reform agenda, Shettima detailed various initiatives aimed at reinforcing the country's healthcare system, such as increasing domestic healthcare funding, promoting local pharmaceutical production, and enhancing regulatory frameworks.
He referenced the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative launched in December 2023, which has garnered over $2.2 billion in commitments aimed at revitalizing over 17,000 primary healthcare facilities, training 120,000 frontline health workers, and extending health insurance coverage.
Furthermore, he discussed augmenting epidemic intelligence and emergency readiness through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, including improved laboratory networks and genomic surveillance efforts. To combat the spread of substandard medicines, the government has intensified enforcement activities via the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC).
Shettima’s government is also pushing the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain to eliminate structural challenges that domestic pharmaceutical companies face and to encourage investments in local drug production, diagnostics, and biotech research.
He reiterated the essential role of private sector involvement in achieving health sovereignty across Africa. At the same meeting, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, spoke on Nigeria’s efforts to create a robust health workforce database and invest in capacity- building projects to rectify disparities between urban and rural health services.
Confirming the necessity of bridging healthcare worker distribution gaps, he highlighted the endeavors to enhance the health workforce in addressing evolving health challenges.
Jean Kaseya, Director-General of the Africa CDC, praised Nigeria for its leadership in health system reforms, mentioning the need for more trained healthcare providers as many African nations deal with fragile healthcare systems. Health ministers from countries like Senegal, Malawi, and Ethiopia expressed their commitment to the initiative, vowing to fortify workforce development and community health structures domestically.
In a communiqué from the forum, African health and finance ministers emphasized the importance of increasing local funding for health workforce initiatives and community healthcare systems, aiming for a continental target of deploying two million community health workers by 2030.
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