By Raymond Ken-Mbata
ABUJA – The Federal Government has urged Nigerians to take greater responsibility for their health through regular medical screening, healthy lifestyles, early detection of diseases and timely access to medical services.
The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, made the call on Thursday 28th of October, 2026, in Abuja, during the commemoration of the 2026 National Health Promotion Day, themed “Health Promotion: Owning My Health,” with the slogan, “Take Charge, Live Well.”
Pate, whose address was delivered by the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry, Daju Kachollom S. mni, described preventive healthcare as essential to improving the nation’s health outcomes.
Citing the 2024 Nigeria Demographic and Health Survey, the minister said under-five mortality had declined from 132 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 in 2024.
However, he expressed concern that neonatal mortality increased from 39 to 41 deaths per 1,000 live births within the same period, highlighting the need for stronger interventions to protect newborns.
He identified hypertension detection, hepatitis elimination, cervical cancer screening, immunisation, improved nutrition and the prevention of communicable diseases as some of the government’s ongoing health promotion priorities. He, however, stressed that public awareness must be supported by accessible and affordable healthcare services to ensure that people who need screening and treatment can receive them.
Development partners also reaffirmed their support for the government’s health promotion efforts. The United Nations Population Fund representative, Dr. Olukunle Omotoso, highlighted the importance of community engagement, health literacy, gender equality and access to sexual and reproductive health services, while CARE International, through its representative, Oluloto Ebenezer, pledged continued support for community-based health behaviour interventions.
The Permanent Secretary, Daju Kachollom S. mni, urged Nigerians to embrace preventive healthcare and encouraged participants to take advantage of screening services provided at the event. She also called on health workers, community leaders, the media and other stakeholders to promote healthy living, adding that the success of health promotion should be measured by illnesses prevented and lives protected.
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