The Federal Government, through the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (NCDC), has launched its “Strategy and Implementation Plan 2023-2027” to protect Nigerians from infectious diseases, public health threats, and evolving challenges. This five-year strategic plan, tagged “Vision to Action,” was unveiled during the NCDC’s health security partners’ meeting in Abuja on Tuesday.
The new strategy builds upon the successes and challenges identified from the previous 2017-2022 plan, following an end-term review conducted in 2022. The 2023-2027 plan includes a strong emphasis on digital transformation, high-quality public health informatics, and clearly defined principles to sustain NCDC’s vision for improved health security.
This comprehensive five-year strategy sets out seven goals, 41 objectives, and 225 activities. It focuses on coordinated efforts across the federal, state, and local government levels, as well as the private sector and development partners, to improve and transform Nigeria’s public health infrastructure.
Dr. Ifedayo Adetifa, Director General of the NCDC, stated that the new strategy aims to scale and sustain health systems in Nigeria, with a focus on achieving accelerated impact in health security interventions. The approach leverages “Strategic, Ambitious, Speed, and Scale” to serve as a model for other African nations. Dr. Adetifa also highlighted Nigeria’s significant achievements in its response to the COVID-19 pandemic, which helped improve the country’s health security profile.
Nigeria’s Joint External Evaluation (JEE) score has improved from 39% in 2018 to 54% in 2023. This makes Nigeria the third country in the world to conduct a second JEE, which is used by the World Health Organisation (WHO) to assess countries’ capacity to manage public health threats that cross geographical and international boundaries.
The NCDC Director General added that Nigeria’s progress in health security demonstrates the dedication of the government, health security partners, and the agency itself. He emphasized that the five-year plan would help Nigeria strengthen its public health capabilities, particularly in surveillance, laboratory services, and outbreak response.
To ensure the successful execution of the strategic plan, a performance management structure has been established. This structure will oversee the coordination of initiatives across NCDC’s departments and divisions, allowing developmental partners to collaborate and align efforts to safeguard the health of Nigerians from emerging and evolving public health challenges.
The plan aims to bolster Nigeria’s health systems and ensure that all levels of government and stakeholders contribute to enhancing the country’s health security, from the national level down to local government areas and wards.
