*Seeks deeper ties with Brazil By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Abuja The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards Universal Health C
*Seeks deeper ties with Brazil
By; ARCHIBONG ESUENE, Abuja
The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment towards Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and unlocking the nation’s healthcare value chain through strategic global partnerships, with focus on Brazil’s health system model.
The Minister of State Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, who disclosed this during the 2nd Session of the Nigerian – Brazil Strategic Dialogue Mechanism in Abuja, outlined several key reforms and achievements under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (HSRII).
While proposing a formal framework for deepening Nigeria–Brazil health cooperation, the Minister said President Tinubu administration’s health reform is anchored on four pillars, which includes effective governance, equitable quality health systems, unlocking healthcare value chains, and strengthening health security with digitalisation, strategic financing, and workforce transformation as cross-cutting themes.
“President Tinubu’s administration is prioritizing the health sector through expanded budget allocation, a 52% increase in two years and the implementation of 21 strategic policies aimed at strengthening the health system and promoting local pharmaceutical manufacturing,”
According to him, the Primary Healthcare Revitalisation, over 37 million Nigerians reached as of Q1 2025. workforce Reforms, reduced recruitment bureaucracy, task shifting, and increased training capacity for health professionals have changed the narrative for good.
Speaking further, the Minister also cited Health Insurance Expansion Coverage rose by over 15% in one year, with new schemes for vulnerable groups and catastrophic health needs, reform of BHCPF, improved transparency and timely fund release and value chain growth through the Presidential Initiative to Unlock the Health Value Chain (PVAC), 87 local manufacturers now benefit from government incentives”, he added.
On the global recognition and expansion of health institutions, the Minister said two Nigerian-made medicines obtained WHO prequalification , first in West and Central Africa, establishment of 12 new tertiary hospitals and over 500 projects executed in 61 institutions, including six new cancer centres.
Dr Salako who equally spoke on Preventive Care Boost and Introduction of HPV, malaria vaccines, and cervical cancer elimination efforts, emphasized the importance of learning from Brazil’s Sistema Único de Saúde (SUS), which provides free healthcare to 70% of Brazilians and has achieved a 77% reduction in infant mortality since 1990.
“Brazil’s family health and oral health teams model, success in generic drug legislation, and globally recognized pharmaceutical capacity offer strong templates for Nigeria’s own reforms,”
New Nigerian Newspapers gathered that the proposed areas of Nigeria–Brazil Cooperation include, local Pharmaceutical and Vaccine Production, joint ventures and policy exchanges research and development with focused on tropical and non-communicable diseases.
Training and Workforce Development, exchange programs for Nigerian health professionals and epidemiological Surveillance & Disease Control specifically emulating Brazil’s vector control and infectious disease strategies.
The Formal Agreements Proposal to establish a Nigeria-Brazil Health Cooperation Framework and Working Group, with a Five-Year Joint Action Plan form part of the discussion as Dr Salako also spotlighted the NASENI-Troment Biotechnology Factory as a “practical demonstration” of the success of Nigeria’s local manufacturing policy, calling it one of several transformative initiatives under the current administration.
Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations in a statement said the Minister expressed hope that the visit of Brazil’s Vice President and the ongoing dialogue would lead to formalized health partnerships that benefit not just Nigeria and Brazil, but also the broader global health community.
“We are confident that with strong political will and shared vision, the Nigeria and Brazil health partnership will contribute significantly to the prosperity and well-being of our two peoples,” he said.
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