Nigeria has called on African nations to strengthen health security sovereignty and reduce dependence on foreign aid, emphasizing self-sufficient, homegrown health systems. Vice President Kashim Shettima, representing President Bola Tinubu, made the appeal at a high-level side event on Building Africa’s Health Security Sovereignty during the 39th African Union Heads of State Summit in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.
Shettima stressed that Africa must not rely on distant supply chains or shifting global priorities, citing challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic when rationed vaccines and scarce oxygen exposed vulnerabilities. He said health security is inseparable from national and continental security, declaring that viruses and counterfeit medicines do not respect borders.
Nigeria’s initiatives include boosting local pharmaceutical production, increasing domestic health financing, and enhancing regulatory oversight through agencies such as NCDC and NAFDAC. The Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, launched in December 2023, has secured over $2.2 billion to renovate 17,000 primary healthcare centres, train 120,000 frontline health workers, and expand health insurance coverage.
The country is also implementing the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Healthcare Value Chain to support local pharmaceutical manufacturers and biotechnology innovators. Health ministers from Senegal, Malawi, and Ethiopia pledged collaboration, while AU ministers of Health and Finance called for greater investment in human resources and community health systems. A continental target of two million community health workers by 2030 was set to strengthen primary health care, universal health coverage, and pandemic preparedness.
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