Nigeria Launches €4.2m EU–WHO Programme to Boost Outbreak Preparedness –
Nigeria Launches €4.2 Million Health Initiative with EU Support
Nigeria has officially launched a €4.2 million program aimed at enhancing the country’s capacity to detect and respond to disease outbreaks. Supported by the European Union and implemented by the World Health Organization, the initiative is dubbed the EU Support to Public Health Institutes in Nigeria (EU SPIN).
The four-year program will be executed in collaboration with the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare. Its primary goals include improving the performance of selected public health institutions, enhancing coordination, facilitating faster information sharing, and developing workforce capabilities.
At the launch event held in Abuja on Monday, Iziaq Adekunle Salako, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, emphasized the program’s importance for Nigeria’s healthcare system, stating, “This initiative is designed to strengthen our health institutions, and it is truly a welcome development. It will improve the well-being of Nigerians, especially our vulnerable populations.” He noted that the program aligns with the Federal Government’s broader health reform objectives.
Nigeria faces a significant health burden, grappling with recurrent infectious disease outbreaks and an increasing incidence of non-communicable diseases, such as hypertension and diabetes. The World Health Organization reports that non-communicable diseases account for 27 percent of deaths in Nigeria, while malaria contributes to approximately 30 percent of global malaria fatalities. Ongoing outbreaks of cholera, diphtheria, Lassa fever, meningitis, and Mpox continue to pose major public health challenges.
The EU SPIN program aims to address systemic weaknesses that hinder effective outbreak responses by fostering collaboration among public health institutions and clarifying roles at the federal, state, and local levels. The initiative will establish real-time data systems, promoting quicker and more informed decision-making during health emergencies.
A significant aspect of the program is workforce development, which includes plans to train up to 75 percent of public health staff in leadership, prevention and response strategies, and digital competencies.
European Union Ambassador to Nigeria Gautier Mignon remarked on the program’s significance, stating, “Through EU SPIN, the European Union is investing in strong, digitally enabled public health institutions in Nigeria. This partnership underscores our commitment to health security and sustainable system strengthening.”
Pavel Ursu, WHO Representative in Nigeria, highlighted that improved coordination and digital tools would significantly enhance the country’s capacity to protect lives. “By improving coordination, skills, and digital tools, the project will help protect lives and keep communities healthier,” he said.
Officials expect the program to strengthen the linkage between public health systems and primary healthcare services, ensuring that communities receive faster and more effective responses to health threats. By 2028, the initiative aims to achieve more efficient inter-agency coordination, clearer institutional responsibilities, and more reliable public health data, with progress monitored through national oversight and periodic evaluations involving government and development partners.
