Nigeria Leads Africa’s Health Revolution at Abbott Summit, Champions Local Diagnostics and Regional Collaboration
By Pan Afric Reporters Abuja, Nigeria | June 18, 2025
In a bold reaffirmation of its leadership in Africa’s public health transformation, Nigeria has called for urgent regional action to expand access to diagnostic technologies and local manufacturing at the 2025 Abbott Infectious Disease Summit held in Abuja.
Speaking on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, the Permanent Secretary, Ms. Kachollom S. Daju mni, declared the summit open and underscored its alignment with Nigeria’s Renewed Hope Agenda and the Sector-Wide Approach (SWAp) for health system reform.
“Diseases like HIV, TB, Malaria, and Hepatitis continue to threaten our region. Rapid, decentralized diagnostics—especially Point-of-Care testing—are not just innovations; they are lifelines,” she said.
The summit, organized by Abbott Rapid Diagnostics, brought together public health leaders, innovators, policymakers, and global partners to shape the future of disease control in Central, West, and East Africa.
Daju according to a press release e-signed by the ministry’s Deputy Director, Information & Public Relations, Alaba Balogun urged global health manufacturers to support Nigeria’s Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Healthcare Value Chain (PVAC), which was launched in 2024 to incentivize local production of medical supplies. The initiative offers zero tariffs and machinery waivers to boost domestic manufacturing.
Stakeholders Call for Innovation, Action
Opening-day highlights included key policy statements and progress reports:
- Senator Dr. Ipalibo Banigo, Chair of the Senate Committee on Health, announced legislative reforms in the NCDC Act and stressed the urgency of improving Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission (PMTCT).
- Aziz Abdi, Regional GM for Central and West Africa at Abbott, spotlighted Nigeria’s significant HIV burden, praising national testing scale-ups and health equity efforts.
- Dr. Adebobola Bashorun, National Coordinator for NASCP, revealed that treatment coverage for HIV, TB, and malaria has reached 60%, with a significant drop in mother-to-child HIV transmission.
- Dr. Abdu Mukhtar, PVAC National Coordinator, announced a signed MoU to begin local production of Rapid Diagnostic Tests (RDTs)—a cornerstone of Nigeria’s health industrialization strategy.
- Dr. Temitope Ilori, Director-General of NACA, affirmed that domestic RDT manufacturing would enhance lab capacity and reiterated Nigeria’s 2030 goal of zero new HIV infections.
Regional Solidarity, Global Support
Development partners such as the World Health Organization (WHO), Society for Family Health (SFH), Clinton Health Access Initiative (CHAI), and the Institute for Human Virology expressed strong support for deeper collaboration and knowledge sharing in combating infectious diseases.
As the summit continues over the next three days, participants have been urged to develop sustainable, inclusive solutions that address Africa’s health equity and disease elimination goals.
“The time to act is now. Through innovation and collaboration, we can build a healthier, self-reliant Africa,” Prof. Pate’s message concluded.
