The Nigeria government has reiterated its commitment to preventive healthcare and health promotion as the foundation for achieving national well-being and sustainable development.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Mohammed Ali Pate, stated this in Abuja during a press briefing to mark the 2025 National Health Promotion Day, with the theme “Health Promotion: The Catalyst for Sustainable Health and Well-being of Nigerians 2.0.”
Represented by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom, Professor Pate said “the Nigerian Government remains dedicated to empowering Nigerians with knowledge that supports healthy choices and prevents diseases.”
He emphasised that health promotion is not just a policy but a cost-effective strategy for improving health outcomes and reducing the financial burden of treatment on citizens.
According to the Minister, Nigeria was the first country in the world to declare and commemorate a National Health Promotion Day, demonstrating the nation’s leadership in advancing preventive health.
“The “2.0” in this year’s theme represents a digital upgrade, leveraging innovations such as mobile health applications and telemedicine to reach underserved communities across the country,” Professor Pate explained.
He noted that the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, through the Department of Family Health has developed a National Health Promotion Policy that strengthens community-based health education, promotes environmental hygiene, and encourages healthy lifestyles through physical activity, proper nutrition, and mental health awareness.
He disclosed that over 2,000 Civil servants were recently screened for early detection of chronic conditions as part of the government’s preventive health initiative.
Professor Pate called on all sectors, government agencies, civil society groups, religious and traditional leaders, and development partners to work together to expand access to health education, integrate health promotion into schools and workplaces, and ensure collaboration rather than duplication of efforts.
He also urged the media to continue supporting the dissemination of accurate health information to improve public awareness.
Professor Pate explained that promoting prevention over cure remains the most effective path toward a healthier and more productive Nigeria.
He urged citizens to adopt healthy diets, engage in regular physical activity, and maintain clean environments, stressing that collective responsibility for health will strengthen communities and drive sustainable national development.
Also speaking, the Chairman of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the Health Promotion Day, Dr. Ejike Oji, lauded the Ministry of Health and its partners for institutionalising the Health Promotion Day, describing it as a milestone achievement in preventive healthcare.
He recounted his early professional experience, noting that, “Many health challenges stem from poor lifestyle choices rather than infections alone, stressing the need to make lifestyle modification and health literacy central to Nigeria’s healthcare system.”
Dr. Oji disclosed that his recently launched Five Million Women Database would serve as a platform for spreading health promotion messages to every part of Nigeria.
He reaffirmed his commitment, along with other partners, to ensure that the initiative moves beyond commemoration to actionable, measurable impact in communities.
Giving her goodwill message, the Team Lead for Disease Prevention and Control at the World Health Organization (WHO) Nigeria, Dr. Mya Ngon commended the progress made since the country began commemorating Health Promotion Day.
Ngon noted that community education, behaviour change, and visibility of health promotion activities have improved significantly.
She urged Nigerians to sustain individual and collective efforts that create an enabling environment for healthy living; emphasising that health promotion should be a continuous culture, not just a campaign.
According to her, “WHO remains a steadfast partner in supporting Nigeria’s drive to build an informed, empowered, and healthier population.”
Ngon called for renewed collaboration and commitment among stakeholders to ensure that every citizen, regardless of location, has access to the information and tools necessary to live a quality life.
In her remarks, Barrister Oris Ikiddeh, Director of Communications, JHPIEGO Nigeria, and Co-Chair of the Local Organizing Committee (LOC) for the Health Promotion Day, described health promotion as a crucial catalyst for achieving sustainable health and well-being.
She said empowering individuals and communities with knowledge and supportive environments can prevent diseases and improve the overall quality of life.
Ikiddeh expressed optimism that with sustained commitment, the initiative could evolve into an international observance.