Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Pate, has underscored the need for Nigeria’s health policies to be shaped by the lived experiences and voices of everyday Nigerians.
Speaking during the 10th anniversary of the Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh Health Trust in Abuja on Monday, Pate, who was represented by Nse Akpan, Director of Port Health Services, emphasized the importance of grassroots involvement in health sector reforms.
He warned against the continued reliance on top-down strategies, stating they often miss the mark in addressing the diverse and specific needs of the population.
“Nigeria’s health sector reforms would only succeed if policies were designed to reflect the needs, values, and experiences of people at the grassroots,” Pate said.
He further stressed that policy design must go beyond formal settings and truly resonate in everyday spaces across the country.
“Policy design in Nigeria will not succeed unless it resonates in the communities, in the marketplace, in the farm, in the school, in churches, in mosques, and in clinics. That is where policy truly works. If we sit down here and say we have a lot of failed policies without engaging the grassroots, then the government has not done anything,” he added.
Highlighting the importance of inclusion, the minister called for the active participation of youth, women, and marginalized groups in shaping public health policies. According to him, inclusivity is not only a matter of equity but also crucial for achieving effective outcomes.
Pate also commended the efforts of DRASA Health Trust, describing the organization as a leading example of how community-based partnerships can strengthen public health systems.
He affirmed the government’s ongoing commitment to collaborating with the private sector, civil society, and development partners to reinforce Nigeria’s health security infrastructure.
Reiterating the shared responsibility of health security, the minister warned against complacency, especially in the face of potential future health emergencies.
“Health security is everyone’s business. It wasn’t the business of Adadevoh alone; it is the business of us all. We do not know when or where the next outbreak will occur, but if we remain united and proactive, we can prevent crises and protect our people,” he said.
Pate also announced plans to expand health education efforts in partnership with organizations like DRASA. As part of this initiative, the government aims to train 50,000 additional health workers to serve in schools and communities nationwide.
“This initiative will not only improve hygiene and infection prevention but will also build a new generation of health champions in every community,” he said.
DRASA Health Trust was established in memory of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who played a pivotal role in Nigeria’s response to the Ebola outbreak in 2014. Adadevoh is widely credited with preventing a wider spread of the virus when she identified and quarantined Ebola patient Patrick Sawyer, despite facing significant external pressure.
