By Fatima Saka
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, CON, will lead Nigeria’s delegation to the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA78), scheduled to take place from May 19 to 27, 2025, in Geneva, Switzerland. The official delegation includes six senior officials from the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.
This was disclosed in a statement signed by Alaba Balogun, Deputy Director of Information and Public Relations, on Friday.
In addition to the government team, representatives from Nigeria’s broader health ecosystem—including the private sector, development partners, and donor agencies—will participate in technical sessions and side events. These engagements align with the 2025 WHA theme, “One World for Health,” which emphasizes global solidarity in tackling shared health challenges and building resilient health systems.
Convened annually by the World Health Organization (WHO), the World Health Assembly is the highest decision-making body for global health. Member states will deliberate on critical issues such as sustainable healthcare financing, health workforce development, and accelerating progress toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC)—key pillars of Nigeria’s ongoing health sector reforms.
Nigeria’s participation is expected to provide strategic insights for policy planning, implementation, and alignment with international best practices. The delegation will engage in high-level discussions and contribute to agenda items of national and regional relevance.
Key Topics for Nigeria at WHA78:
Sustainable Healthcare Financing
Strengthening Human Resources for Health
Prevention and Control of Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs), including Diabetes
Nigeria’s Position Papers on:
Poliomyelitis Eradication
Universal Health Coverage (UHC)
Mental Health and Social Connection
Global Strategy for Cervical Cancer Elimination
Advancing Oral Health
Enhancing Local Production of Medicines and Health Technologies
Addressing Skin Diseases and Adverse Cosmetic Events
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As Nigeria implements its Health Sector Strategic Blueprint under the Renewed Hope Agenda, outcomes from WHA78 are expected to inform evidence-based decision-making, foster multilateral partnerships, and support national strategies that strengthen health equity, service delivery, and health security.
