The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Muhammad Ali Pate has disclosed that the federal government is committed towards fortifying the health security of the ECOWAS region through robust partnerships innovative strategies and an unwavering dedication to collaborative excellence.
He made the disclosure the two day workshop on establishing a Technical Advisory Committee (TAC), organized by the ECOWAS Regional Center for Surveillance and Disease Control (RCSDC) in Abuja on Tuesday.
The Minister who represented by the Director General of the Nigeria Center for Disease Control (NSCDC), Olajide Idris revealed that the sweeping impacts of climate change, rapid urbanization, recurring humanitarian crises and systemic vulnerabilities within the health systems have significantly amplified the risks posed by emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases that demand a united and dynamic response.
He summoned that the Ebola and COVID-19 pandemics have made it unmistakably clear that public health security is not confined by national borders but a regional imperative which collective experiences and resilience depends on the strength of shared systems, mutual trust and capacity for rapid and coordinated action.
The health minister maintained that, Nigeria has demonstrated strong leadership through a unified Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) that streamlines governance and aligned all stakeholders under one cohesive strategy.
According to him, the ministry was playing a pivotal role in the process by prioritizing critical health needs and driving transformative reforms through the implementation of the Executive Order, the National Health Sector Renewal Initiative Program (NHSRIP).
He highlighted the significance of the establishment of TAC, saying that it would be much more than a statutory body but also serve as a dynamic forum for the exchange of scientific knowledge and technical expertise, among others.
On his part, the Executive Director, ECOWAS RCSDC, Dr. Mamadou Diarrassouba said that ECOWAS health issues are crucial to regional economic integration, emphasizing that the establishment of the TAC was a strategic step to strengthen the governance of the agency in line with the ECOWAS Regulation that defines the creation and operational modalities of the RCSDC.
The Deputy WHO Country Representative, Dr. Alexander Chimbaru reaffirms that WHO stands committed to saving lives and reducing suffering during times of crisis, whether caused by conflict, disease outbreak or natural disasters.
He pledged to collaborate closely with countries and partners to rapidly identify, verify and respond to potential events of international public health concern.
Also speaking, the Director General Africa CDC, Dr. Kokou Alinon said that TAC is expected to be instrumental in supporting the ECOWAS Regional Center for Surveillance and Disease Control to achieve its mandate.
He urged council members to provide strategic guidance, technical expertise and support to the Regional Center as they work together to strengthen regional health security.
