Nigeria is set to champion the global health stage as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate CON, prepares to lead the country’s delegation to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78) in Geneva, Switzerland. Scheduled to run from May 19 to 27, 2025, the event convened by the World Health Organization (WHO) is the world’s foremost platform for shaping international health policy and advancing global health priorities.
According to a statement released by Alabi Balogun, Director of Information and Public Relations at the Federal Ministry of Health, the Nigerian delegation will include six senior officials. They will be joined by key stakeholders from Nigeria’s broader health ecosystem, including private sector leaders, development partners, and donor agencies, all actively participating in technical sessions and high-level side events.
This year’s assembly theme, “One World for Health,” underscores the urgent need for global solidarity in building resilient health systems and tackling shared challenges from pandemics to non-communicable diseases. For Nigeria, the event presents a critical opportunity to showcase its health sector reforms, draw insights from global best practices, and forge new partnerships that drive sustainable progress.
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As part of its agenda, Nigeria will engage in high-stakes discussions on sustainable healthcare financing, human resource development, and the push toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) cornerstones of the country’s Health Sector Strategic Blueprint under President Bola Tinubu’s Renewed Hope Agenda. Nigeria is also expected to submit and defend several key position papers on poliomyelitis eradication, mental health, cervical cancer elimination, oral health, and local production of medicines and health technologies.
With pressing issues like diabetes, cosmetic-related skin complications, and access to essential care on the table, Nigeria’s presence at WHA78 is more than symbolic, it is strategic. The outcomes of the assembly will be pivotal in guiding Nigeria’s health policy review and implementation, enhancing evidence-based decision-making, and strengthening its leadership role within Africa’s public health space.