FG Urges Nigerians to Take Charge of Their Health
By Salami Abdulrahaman | Pan Afric Reporters
The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for their health through regular medical check-ups, disease prevention and healthier lifestyles.
The call was made on Thursday in Abuja during a ministerial press briefing to mark the 2026 National Health Promotion Day.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, represented by the Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom, said Nigerians must move beyond relying solely on hospitals for treatment and embrace preventive healthcare.
He said health promotion should go beyond creating awareness to encouraging people to make informed health decisions and take practical steps to prevent illnesses and reduce avoidable deaths.
The theme of this year’s celebration is “Health Promotion: Owning My Health,” with the slogan “Take Charge, Live Well.”
Presenting the minister’s message, Kachollom said Nigeria had made progress in reducing child mortality but stressed the need for stronger interventions to improve newborn survival.
She cited the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, which showed that under-five mortality declined from 132 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 in 2024.
However, neonatal mortality increased from 39 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births within the same period.
She said the figures highlighted the need to strengthen efforts to protect mothers and newborn babies.
Kachollom also identified health promotion as a key component of the government’s Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, which focuses on strengthening primary healthcare, expanding immunisation and addressing non-communicable diseases.
She listed ongoing interventions to include hypertension screening, hepatitis elimination, cervical cancer screening and improved nutrition.
The Permanent Secretary stressed that public awareness must be matched with access to affordable and quality healthcare services, noting that Nigerians should be able to access medical screening and receive appropriate treatment when necessary.
She added that every patient visiting a health facility must receive safe, respectful and quality care.
Earlier, the Director of the Health Promotion Division, John Uruakpa, said more than 20 million Nigerians had been reached with health messages through radio, social media and community outreach programmes.
Uruakpa said Nigeria became the first country in the world to institutionalise a National Health Promotion Day following its approval by the National Council on Health. The first edition was held on October 29, 2024.
He called on stakeholders to extend health promotion activities to more communities, schools, states and primary healthcare centres.
According to him, improving public health should not be the responsibility of the Ministry of Health alone but requires the active involvement of families, the media, civil society organisations, religious institutions and development partners.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) commended Nigeria for institutionalising the annual observance, describing it as a demonstration of national vision and leadership.
Representing the organisation, Dr Eshetu Wassie reaffirmed WHO’s support for the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, stressing the need to translate health promotion into practical actions that save lives.
Other development partners at the event, including UNFPA, Jhpiego, SFH, UNICEF, NI, CCSI, MSI, PPFN, ARFH, CARES INT, AAFP, PCDF, ISMPH and AHBN, also delivered goodwill messages and reaffirmed their commitment to supporting health promotion efforts in Nigeria.
The annual observance seeks to shift greater attention towards preventive healthcare, early diagnosis and healthier lifestyles while reducing the burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
The Federal Government urged Nigerians to seek reliable health information, participate in screening and immunisation programmes, and visit health facilities whenever they notice signs of illness.
