Maiduguri, Borno State, Nigeria – November 21-22, 2024. The 65th session of Nigeria’s National Health Council commenced on Thursday, November 21, 2024, in Maiduguri, the capital of Borno State. This event brings together key stakeholders in the health sector, including the Federal Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, the Minister of State for Health, and the 37 Commissioners responsible for health in the 36 States and the Federal Capital. Indeed, the National Health Council is the primary decision-making body for policies, guidelines, and health interventions in the Federal Republic of Nigeria.
Under the main theme "Accelerating Universal Health Coverage: Successful Strategies for 2030", this session addresses strategic sub-themes such as:
- Human resource development in health,
- Community engagement/health promotion,
- Leveraging digital health to transform care delivery.
During his speech at the opening ceremony, the Director-General of the West African Health Organization (WAHO), Dr. Melchior Athanase Joël Codjovi AÏSSI, emphasized the critical importance of community engagement in improving health services. He also highlighted Nigeria’s leading role in enhancing health indicators within the ECOWAS region.
The Director-General is accompanied by Mr. Sani Ali, Director of Planning and Health Information, to represent WAHO at this significant gathering.