The Federal Government has reaffirmed its commitment to implementing health education and preventive strategies aimed at addressing the burden of non-communicable diseases, reducing high mortality rates, and eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV.
This commitment was reiterated by the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, during a meeting with a delegation from the Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), led by its Executive Vice President for Infectious Diseases, Dr. David Ripin. The statement was issued by Alaba Balogun, Head of Information and Public Relations, on Thursday.
Addressing the prevalence of diseases such as cancer, hypertension, and diabetes, Dr. Salako emphasized the government’s shift towards a more proactive approach, with health education and prevention at the core of its strategy.
As part of this initiative, the 2025 budget of the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare will prioritize cancer prevention at all levels.
“This year, our budget places significant emphasis on cancer prevention. A substantial portion of the funding will be directed towards both primary and secondary prevention, including screening, population-wide prevention efforts, and related interventions,” Dr. Salako stated.
The Minister also highlighted the government’s commitment to reducing maternal mortality rates, announcing the launch of the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative.
According to him, the Ministry will focus on improving maternal care, particularly in high-burden local government areas. He noted that integrating minimal technology, such as ultrasound, into maternal healthcare services will encourage more women to seek antenatal care.
Dr. Salako expressed appreciation for the strong partnership between the Ministry and CHAI, emphasizing that their collaboration will yield significant benefits for Nigerians.
In her remarks, Dr. Olufunke Fasawe, Country Director of CHAI, outlined the organization’s contributions to improving healthcare access in Nigeria.
She noted that CHAI, in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health & Social Welfare, has facilitated a 50% reduction in the cost of select chemotherapy treatments and has supported over 20 cancer treatment centers nationwide to ensure affordability and accessibility.
On cervical cancer elimination, Dr. Fasawe highlighted CHAI’s success in integrating cervical screening into routine healthcare services.
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“We have transitioned cervical screening from being limited to outreaches, NGOs, and charity events to being a regular part of routine healthcare services. Now, any woman aged 25 and above can access screening as part of standard care,” she stated.
She further revealed that over 57,000 women have received HPV screening, attributing this achievement to a significant price reduction in HPV test kits—from approximately $20 to $7—made possible through CHAI’s efforts.
Dr. Fasawe reaffirmed CHAI’s commitment to supporting Nigeria’s healthcare system, ensuring that critical services remain accessible and affordable to the population.
