The National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) has thrown its weight behind efforts to strengthen media reporting on Non-Communicable diseases (NCDs).
It describes the initiative as vital to improving Nigeria’s response to the growing burden of hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and other chronic illnesses.
The support was conveyed in a goodwill message delivered by Dr. Mark-Anthony Okoli of the NCDs Unit, on behalf of the Agency, at the inception meeting of the NCDs Media Community of Practice and the launch of the NCD Impact Story Lab Seed Grant in Abuja.
Dr. Okoli said the event represents a significant milestone in the country’s push for sustainable NCD financing, stronger accountability, and effective public communication.
He commended LiSDEL, the Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids/Global Health Advocacy Incubator, and other partners for championing the APH-FiP project, which he said is deepening collaboration among media professionals, civil society, and health stakeholders.
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“The launch of the NCDs Media Community of Practice and the Seed Grant would empower journalists with the knowledge, tools, and professional networks needed to deliver accurate and impactful reporting on NCD financing and public health reforms.
“A more informed and engaged media landscape will strengthen public awareness, enrich policy conversations, and promote accountability in health-sector spending,” he said.
NPHCDA expressed confidence that the discussions and outcomes from the meeting would support Nigeria’s ongoing journey toward Universal Health Coverage (UHC) and improved NCD services across all communities.
In a communiqué jointly read by Mrs. Ijomoa Joseph-Agbara and Mrs. Maimuna Baran, a cancer survivor, on behalf of the Patient Advocacy Working Group (AWG) for NCDs Public Financing in Nigeria, the group called on the Federal Government to urgently translate its commitments into tangible action by releasing funds allocated for NCDs in the 2025 budget.
Speaking on behalf of patients living with hypertension, diabetes, cancers, and chronic respiratory illnesses, Mrs. Joseph-Agbara expressed concern that despite NCDs being among Nigeria’s highest public-health burdens, less than 20 percent of patients have access to diagnosis and treatment.
She noted that although the 2019–2025 multisectoral action plan targets 80 percent diagnosis and treatment coverage, “only six percent of Nigeria’s health budget is allocated to NCDs, most of which remain unimplemented.”
Also speaking, Mrs. Maimuna Baran condemned the non-execution of key NCD budget activities, including the establishment of cancer treatment centres, eye-care facilities, community medical outreaches for hypertension and diabetes, and training programmes for health workers.
She stressed that the situation contradicts the principles of UHC, which Nigeria is commemorating this week.
The group issued three major demands: immediate release of NCD budget lines in the 2025 budget; legislative action to ring-fence Sugar-Sweetened Beverage (SSB) tax revenue for NCD interventions; and stronger integration of NCD services within existing UHC frameworks.
While commending ongoing efforts to increase the SSB tax from N10 per litre to a more impactful rate, they insisted that at least 40 percent of the revenue should support NCD prevention and control programmes.
“We call on the National Health Insurance Authority (NHIA) and the Basic Health Care Provision Fund (BHCPF) to expand benefit packages to cover NCD screening, diagnosis, and treatment. Half of Nigerians with diabetes remain undiagnosed while only one in five people with hypertension have their condition controlled,” she added.