Health
By Anthony Isibor
THE Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, says the reforms introduced under President Bola Tinubu’s administration have begun to improve health outcomes across Nigeria, with maternal mortality declining by 17 per cent and malaria prevalence falling to about 15 per cent over the past three years.
Pate disclosed this on Wednesday while addressing participants at the Summit on Enhancing Human Capital Development in Northern Nigeria in Abuja.
According to him, the Federal Government has significantly expanded investments in primary healthcare through the Basic Health Care Provision Fund and other interventions aimed at strengthening healthcare delivery nationwide.
He said that nearly 14,000 primary healthcare centres are now functional across the country with about 3,000 revitalised within the last three years and another 1,000 currently undergoing rehabilitation.
The minister added that more than 109 million Nigerian children have received immunisation services during the period, while antenatal care coverage and safe delivery services have also improved.
He disclosed that newborn mortality has declined by 10 per cent, while ongoing interventions under programmes such as the Maternal Mortality Reduction Innovation Initiative, MAMII, are helping to strengthen maternal and child healthcare.
According to the minister, malaria prevalence has dropped from about 27 per cent to approximately 15 per cent, describing the figure as one of the lowest recorded in recent years.
Beyond infectious diseases, he said that the government had expanded programmes targeting hypertension, diabetes and mental health, while increasing admission quotas for the training of doctors, nurses and midwives to strengthen Nigeria’s health workforce.
The minister disclosed that President Tinubu has also approved initiatives to expand domestic production of pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and biologics to strengthen the country’s healthcare value chain, create jobs and improve national health security.
Despite the progress, Pate maintains that Nigeria still faces enormous health challenges after decades of underinvestment.
He stressed that sustained collaboration between the Federal Government, states and local governments remains essential to improving healthcare outcomes and building the human capital needed to drive economic growth.
According to him, the reforms demonstrate that measurable progress is possible, but warned that governments must maintain investments in healthcare if the gains are to be sustained
A.I
June 26, 2026
Tags: Malaria prevalence falls to 15% Maternal deaths down 17%