Nigeria is stepping up efforts to reinforce its public health system through international collaboration, with a strong emphasis on drawing lessons from China’s approach to managing pandemics.
This was highlighted by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, during a high-level one-day public health symposium held in Abuja. The event, themed “Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Insights from China and Nigeria,” focused on strategies for improving readiness and response to health crises.
Pate stressed the importance of building a resilient healthcare system capable of preventing and managing outbreaks, epidemics, and future pandemics. He noted that effective public health systems form the foundation of such resilience, drawing on Nigeria’s experiences with Ebola, COVID-19, and other disease outbreaks.
According to him, these past experiences provide valuable insights that Nigeria can share with China and other countries, promoting collaborative, multi-sectoral approaches to disease prevention.
The symposium convened key stakeholders, including ministers from health, agriculture, livestock, and environment sectors, alongside technical experts. Discussions centred on how human health, animal health, and environmental factors intersect in the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.
Pate highlighted several critical areas for strengthening public health systems, including disease surveillance, data management, emergency preparedness, community engagement, trust-building, scientific innovation, and clinical research. He also pointed to ongoing outcomes from Nigeria-China cooperation, particularly in training healthcare professionals in microbiology and genomics, improving laboratory systems, and advancing research on diseases such as Lassa fever and monkeypox.
He underscored the role of technology transfer, genome sequencing, and antibody development in enhancing both national and global health security. Emphasising the value of collaboration, he described such partnerships as relationships rooted in mutual respect and shared responsibility, rather than simple transactions.
The minister also linked public health security to the broader national development agenda, noting its inclusion as a key component of the current administration’s health sector strategy. This includes improving governance, strengthening health systems, developing value chains, and enhancing overall health security.
As part of ongoing cooperation efforts, participants are expected to visit the Iruwa Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, recognised for its work in infectious disease management, to observe practical innovations and capacity-building initiatives.
Pate expressed confidence that the symposium would foster long-term partnerships with China and other nations, reinforcing Nigeria’s commitment to building a robust public health system capable of protecting its population and contributing to global health security. He added that public health plays a vital role in both national stability and economic development, and that global collaboration is essential to ensure preparedness for future pandemics.
During the event, Prof. George Gao, former head of China’s disease control agency, shared insights into China’s pandemic response, emphasising the critical role of transparent data sharing in tracking virus mutations and improving response strategies. He warned that withholding data could worsen the spread of variants, stressing that openness is essential in global health efforts.
Gao also acknowledged Nigeria’s strong public health response capabilities, noting that China could learn from Nigeria’s experiences. He pointed to the importance of infrastructure development, particularly improved water supply and sanitation systems, as key components of effective public health in rapidly growing economies.
Meanwhile, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Adekunle Salako, highlighted the central role of diagnostics in pandemic preparedness, noting that effective response begins with accurate identification of health threats. He said the partnership with China would significantly enhance Nigeria’s diagnostic and response capacity.
Salako also emphasised the broader regional impact of this collaboration, pointing out that Nigeria accounts for nearly half of West Africa’s population. As such, strengthening Nigeria’s health system could greatly improve health security across the region.
He further commended China’s handling of COVID-19, attributing its relatively low fatality rate to efficient testing, strong clinical care systems, and coordinated response measures.
The symposium brought together policymakers, researchers, and development partners to exchange knowledge, review past pandemic experiences, and strengthen global preparedness in an increasingly interconnected world.