Nigeria will join global health leaders in Geneva next week for the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), as the country seeks to strengthen international partnerships and align its health sector reforms with global best practices.
Leading the Nigerian delegation is the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, CON. He will be joined by six senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, as well as representatives from Nigeria’s broader health ecosystem, including the private sector, development partners, and donor agencies.
According to Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, the delegation’s participation at the World Health Organization’s annual assembly is a critical step in advancing Nigeria’s health agenda. “These engagements reflect Nigeria’s commitment to building resilient health systems and contributing to global health solidarity,” Balogun said.
This year’s assembly, themed “One World for Health,” will focus on shared global health challenges such as sustainable health financing, human resource development, and achieving Universal Health Coverage (UHC)—all of which are central to Nigeria’s Health Sector Strategic Blueprint under the Renewed Hope Agenda.
Nigeria’s contributions will include position papers on critical health priorities, including:
Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Mental health and social connection
Eradication of poliomyelitis
Non-communicable diseases, including diabetes
Cervical cancer elimination
Oral health
Local production of medicines and health technologies
Skin diseases and adverse cosmetic events
Prof. Pate and his team are expected to participate in technical sessions and high-level side events, using the platform to advocate for Nigeria’s health interests and deepen bilateral and multilateral partnerships.
Balogun noted that insights from the assembly will “inform national health policy reviews, strengthen health security and equity, and enhance the delivery of essential services to Nigerians.”
The WHA78 will run from May 19 to 27 in Geneva, Switzerland, and will convene health ministers and experts from around the world to shape international health policies and address emerging global health threats.