On World Health Day 2026, Nigeria marked the theme “Together for health. Stand with science” by highlighting how evidence-based approaches are driving improvements in public health across the country. Central to this effort is the implementation of the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), which ensures that scientific evidence informs policy, disease prevention, early outbreak detection, and timely response. Through government leadership and collaboration with partners, including the World Health Organization (WHO), Nigeria is using data and research to guide large-scale public health interventions.
Nigeria has achieved measurable progress in several key areas through sustained investment in evidence-based health programs. The country contributed to the certification of the WHO African Region as free of wild poliovirus in 2020, eliminated guinea worm through community surveillance and access to safe water, and continues to control onchocerciasis (river blindness) through mass drug administration. Since the introduction of HPV vaccination in 2023, over five million adolescent girls have been reached, reducing the risk of cervical cancer. Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, emphasized that evidence-based policies improve health outcomes, and Nigeria aims to ensure every citizen has access to quality healthcare without financial hardship.
Strengthened surveillance and response systems are enabling timely action against priority diseases such as cholera, Lassa fever, and measles. In October 2025, Nigeria conducted one of Africa’s largest integrated health campaigns, vaccinating 59.8 million children against measles and rubella, 42.6 million children under five with the novel oral polio vaccine type 2 (nOPV2), and 13.4 million children under five with the bivalent oral polio vaccine (bOPV). Training thousands of health workers in Integrated Disease Surveillance and Response (IDSR) and deploying digital reporting platforms have improved outbreak preparedness and response, particularly in underserved communities.
At the community level, evidence-based interventions are delivered through frontline health workers, increasing trust and uptake of services. In Borno State, mobile outreach teams provide vaccines and health education to remote settlements, while in Oyo State, adolescents like 15-year-old Jomiloju are receiving HPV vaccines to protect against cervical cancer. Nigeria monitors access and outcomes across gender, geography, and socioeconomic groups to ensure equity in health services. Support from partners such as Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, has helped expand immunization coverage and other essential services in underserved areas.
Nigeria’s public health progress reflects strong partnerships between government institutions and organizations like UNICEF and the Gates Foundation. Dr. Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative in Nigeria, highlighted that trusted, funded, and scaled evidence-based interventions save lives. Despite ongoing challenges, including cholera outbreaks, rising noncommunicable diseases, and climate-related risks, Nigeria continues to prioritize strengthening laboratory capacity, expanding surveillance systems, and supporting research. World Health Day 2026 underscores that when science guides action, health systems are stronger, communities are safer, and sustained investment in evidence-based strategies ensures improved health outcomes for all Nigerians.
