Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, has said that Nigeria’s health policies must reflect the real-life experiences of its people if reforms are to succeed.
Represented by Dr Nse Akpan at the 10th anniversary of DRASA Health Trust in Abuja, Pate criticised policy approaches that exclude community participation. “Policies cannot succeed unless they make sense in the daily lives of people—whether they are in the market, on the farm, at school, in mosques or churches,” he said.
He emphasised the importance of including young people, women and marginalised communities in public health decisions. “Inclusion is not just about fairness; it is central to making policies effective,” he noted.
The minister commended DRASA Health Trust for its role in disease surveillance, hygiene promotion and public awareness since the Ebola outbreak in 2014, when Dr Stella Adadevoh’s decisive action saved the nation from a wider epidemic.
Pate said the government is committed to the One Health approach, which integrates human, animal and environmental health, and warned that complacency could undermine national preparedness for future outbreaks.
“Health security is everyone’s responsibility. We cannot wait for the next outbreak before acting,” he said.
He announced that, in partnership with organisations like DRASA, the government plans to train 50,000 additional health workers for deployment to schools and communities, and to expand grassroots health education.
According to him, this will improve hygiene, infection control and help raise a generation of health-conscious citizens.
Pate urged the media, private sector and community leaders to support efforts that promote accurate information, innovation and accountability. “Our task is to build a health system that is inclusive, efficient and resilient to present and future threats,” he said.
