SWAp Coordination Office

In the last two weeks, Nigeria has convened a series of high-level engagements on Climate and Health, moving the conversation beyond policy into practical pathways for adaptation, mitigation, and the development of resilient health systems, particularly within medical product supply chains.

With the National Council on Climate Change leading the country’s broader resilience agenda and the Federal Ministry of Health Nigeria driving the implementation of the Health National Adaptation Plan (HNAP), these engagements focused on how climate action can be embedded directly at the front lines of care. Institutions such as the National Primary Health Care Development Agency, National Health Insurance Authority of Nigeria, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention, and the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control are now aligning efforts to ensure that climate resilience is cutting across service delivery, financing, regulation, and health security.

At the center of this transition is the HOPE PHC Program, which provides a strong and structured framework for mainstreaming climate action through clearly defined Disbursement-Linked Indicators. From infrastructure and service delivery to policy acceleration, financing, and health security, Nigeria is beginning to institutionalize climate resilience as a measurable and accountable reform agenda.

At the same time, attention is also turning to the future of supply chains. By leveraging Nigeria’s extensive research ecosystem and expanding cross-sector collaboration, including the Federal Ministry of Science and Technology, NESREA, and the broader climate innovation community, the country is actively shaping pathways for resilient, homegrown medical product solutions. In partnership with Unitaid, this has included a detailed review of product portfolios and the development of financing strategies to ensure Nigeria is well-positioned to capture emerging opportunities in climate-resilient health innovations.

Under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), climate resilience is now firmly established as a core pillar of ongoing reform. This prioritization is already translating into tangible system-level shifts, from climate-informed health facility designs and infrastructure development to the integration of clean energy solutions such as solarization and improvements in water, sanitation, and hygiene systems.

As the revitalization of primary healthcare continues to accelerate, and higher levels of care are being optimized, particularly for CEmONC service across all 774 LGAs in the country, these changes will become increasingly visible at the community level.

Nigeria is not just planning for climate resilience in health; we are steadily building it into the very fabric of the system as One Sector!

SWAp Coordination Office continues to ensure these efforts are integrated and coordinated towards better health for Nigeria.

Today, the SWAp Coordination Office successfully concluded a two‑day Learning Visit to Jigawa State with a strategic field excursion to General Hospital Dutse and the Primary Health Care facility in Madobi.

The SWAp delegation — led by Dr. Ashiru Adamu Abubakar (Governance Coordination and State Engagement Lead) and Dr. Lawal Bakare (Communications and Innovation Lead), alongside other team members — was accompanied by key state‑level leadership, including the Director of Hospital Services, Dr. Mahmud Abdulwahab; the Director of Pharmaceutical Services, Jigawa State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Pharm. Muhammad Shehu Ahmad; the Senior Special Assistant on PHC to the Executive Governor, Hon. Babangida Lawal Roni; and the IMPACT M&E Officer, Malam Muhammad Muhammad.

At General Hospital Dutse, the Medical Director guided the team through essential service delivery points, providing firsthand insight into operational processes, patient flow, and ongoing interventions. A similar engagement followed at PHCC Madobi, where the PHC Manager, the Officer‑in‑Charge, and members of the Ward Development Committee offered detailed briefings and conducted a facility tour.

Throughout the visits, the SWAp team engaged directly with frontline health workers and community structures, assessing service readiness, coordination mechanisms, and overall service delivery. Beyond the systems observed, the dedication of the health workers was evident in the quality of care being delivered.

The SWAp Coordination Office remains committed to ensuring that national priorities are grounded in community realities, driving meaningful and sustainable improvements in health outcomes at the sub‑national level.

Happy Easter from all of us at the SWAp Coordination Office.

May the blessings of this season fill your hearts with peace and joy, renew your strength, and inspire hope for brighter days ahead.

As we reflect on the depth of love and sacrifice that Good Friday represents, we are reminded of the enduring power of service, empathy, and grace.

May this day inspire us to extend kindness to one another, and to continue building communities grounded in care and compassion.

Reflections from Prof. Gao’s keynote as we consider the realities shaping pandemic preparedness today.

We are living in an increasingly connected world, one where diseases move faster than ever, and collaboration across countries has never been more critical.

By convening the China–Nigeria Public Health Symposium, the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare reinforces Nigeria’s commitment to fostering collaboration, advancing shared learning, and shaping a stronger, more prepared Africa.

Africa cannot afford to wait for the next pandemic.

“The next pandemic is not a question of if — but when.”

At yesterday’s Public Health Symposium, Prof. George Gao, Director General of the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, and former DG of the Chinese CDC, delivered the keynote lecture.
His presentation, “Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness and Response: China Experience,” reflected on decades of China’s work responding to emerging infectious diseases.

Drawing from China’s encounters with influenza, SARS, COVID‑19, and other zoonotic threats, he walked the audience through years of progress, emphasizing the importance of early detection, robust surveillance systems, and sustained investment in rapid scientific action — from virus isolation and sequencing to the development of vaccines and therapeutics.

But beyond technology, Prof Gao stressed that countries must build the capacity to implement, scale, and sustain the tools. Pandemic preparedness depends on strong delivery systems, effective coordination, and community‑level engagement. He also pointed to a growing reality: climate change, global travel, and human behavior are accelerating the emergence and spread of infectious diseases.

His call was clear: no country can do this alone.
Stronger collaboration, deeper partnerships, and a shared commitment to global health are essential for the future. Prof. Gao’s keynote paved the way for deeper technical sessions that expanded on shared experiences and strategies from Nigeria and China for managing future health threats.

Setting the Context: A Decade of Global Pandemic Experiences

In this session, the Honourable Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, offered a reflective overview on how global pandemics over the past decade have reshaped national priorities and exposed the deep links between health, economic stability, and national security.

He emphasized that preparing for future outbreaks requires a multisectoral approach, noting the critical roles of the environment, agriculture, and animal health sectors in preventing and managing emerging threats. He also highlighted the importance of strong national public health institutions, referencing recent steps such as the establishment of the National Institute of Public Health and Infectious Diseases under President Bola Ahmed Tinubu — a move designed to strengthen coordination, surveillance, and response capacity across the country.

Prof. Pate’s remarks underscored that resilience is built long before a crisis begins. It depends on steady investment, cross‑sector collaboration, and systems capable of protecting communities, supporting frontline workers, and sustaining essential services when it matters most.

Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, Honourable Minister of State for Health, opened the China–Nigeria Public Health Symposium with a warm and forward‑looking welcome to all stakeholders, partners, and participants.

In his address, he highlighted how technology, community participation, and international cooperation are becoming central pillars of resilient health systems. He emphasized that these approaches are key to strengthening infrastructure and ensuring both nations are better prepared for future pandemics.

As health leaders, policymakers, heads of key agencies from China and Nigeria, and development partners gather in Abuja, their presence reflects a shared readiness to turn lessons into strategy, experience into action, and partnership into long‑term resilience.

This high‑level public health symposium marks a collective commitment to strengthening how both nations prepare for and respond to future health threats, advancing regional and global health security.

Theme:
Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Insights from China and Nigeria

🚀 1 Day to Go!

Tomorrow, leaders, experts, and partners from China and Nigeria will gather in Abuja to share experiences and insights as we work toward strengthening pandemic preparedness and response.

The symposium will also feature a high‑level Policy Dialogue focused on shaping the next phase of Nigeria–China cooperation in health security. This discussion will consider how both countries can build a more structured and long‑term approach to collaboration, looking at ways to enhance surveillance systems, deepen research partnerships, strengthen the health workforce, and expand local production capacity.

Theme:
Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness and Response: Insights from China and Nigeria

Date: Monday, March 30, 2026
📌 Apply to participate by scanning the QR code or visit www.phsnigeria2026.org