Nigeria has announced a stronger partnership with China to boost its health system and prepare for future pandemics. The announcement came during a high-level public health symposium in Abuja, where top health officials discussed lessons from past outbreaks like Ebola and COVID-19.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, said the collaboration will focus on knowledge exchange, scientific research, and workforce development. “We are learning from past outbreaks to prevent epidemics and pandemics. Working with China will improve our public health capacity, train healthcare workers, and maintain laboratories,” he said.
The partnership will also target priority infectious diseases such as Lassa fever and Mpox. “We want to contribute to global knowledge while benefiting from China’s experience,” Pate added.
As part of the collaboration, officials will visit the Irrua Specialist Teaching Hospital in Edo State, an infectious disease centre of excellence. Nigerian scientists, including Christian Happi, have already made breakthroughs such as sequencing genomes and developing antibodies for Lassa fever, highlighting the country’s growing scientific capacity.
The Minister of State for Health, Adekunle Salako, emphasized that strong diagnostic systems are key to health security. “If we cannot identify the problem, we cannot address it. This partnership with China will improve Nigeria’s testing and diagnostics, benefiting the entire West African region,” he said.
Former Director-General of the China Center for Disease Control and Prevention, George F. Gao, delivered the keynote address, stressing the importance of global data sharing. “If we don’t share the data, the virus will share it. Working together is the only way to control outbreaks and protect people worldwide,” he said.
Pate highlighted that the collaboration aligns with Nigeria’s broader health reforms. “We are open to partnering with all countries to build a strong health system that protects our population and the world,” he said.
