Nigeria Launches €4.2m EU-WHO Initiative to Strengthen Outbreak Response
Oluwatobi Adu 
ABUJA, Nigeria – Nigeria has launched a €4.2 million health security initiative aimed at strengthening the country’s capacity to detect, respond to and manage disease outbreaks through improved coordination among public health institutions.
The programme, known as the EU Support to Public Health Institutes in Nigeria project, is being implemented by the World Health Organization in partnership with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and funded by the European Union.
The four-year initiative was officially launched on Monday in Abuja is expected to strengthen the core functions of selected public health institutions by improving early outbreak detection, enhancing information sharing and reducing the impact of disease outbreaks across the country.
Nigeria continues to face recurring outbreaks of infectious diseases, including cholera, diphtheria, Lassa fever, meningitis and Mpox, alongside a growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as hypertension and diabetes.
The WHO noted that non-communicable diseases now account for about 27 per cent of deaths in Nigeria, while malaria contributes nearly 30 per cent of global malaria deaths.
Through the EU SPIN initiative, the programme will strengthen collaboration among public health institutions, improve digital health systems and support real-time disease surveillance and response mechanisms.
The initiative also aims to improve digital skills among health workers and strengthen links between public health institutions, primary healthcare systems and local communities.
Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, described the initiative as a major boost for the country’s healthcare system.
“This initiative is designed to strengthen our health institutions, and it is truly a welcome development,” Salako said.
“It will improve the wellbeing of Nigerians, especially our vulnerable populations.”
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Pavel Ursu, said the programme would help improve coordination, workforce skills and digital tools needed to protect lives and strengthen community resilience.
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Korede Abdullah 
Edino Chubiyo Cornelius