The National Agency for the Control of AIDS has said Nigeria is now better positioned to respond to future disease outbreaks following strategic investments made under the Global Fund’s COVID-19 Response Mechanism between 2021 and 2025.
NACA stated that the intervention, which was introduced to support countries during the COVID-19 pandemic, has left behind stronger disease surveillance systems, improved laboratory networks, enhanced emergency response mechanisms and a more resilient health infrastructure capable of responding to future public health threats.
The agency made this known ahead of a national close-out meeting convened in collaboration with the Global Fund and key implementing partners to review the achievements, lessons learned and long-term impact of the COVID-19 Response Mechanism investments in Nigeria in a statement on Wednesday.
The Director-General of NACA, Dr Temitope Ilori, said the investments made during the COVID-19 era were no longer limited to pandemic response but had become an integral part of Nigeria’s broader health security framework.
“We learned through COVID-19 that being prepared for one emergency isn’t just about that emergency, it’s about being prepared for any emergency,” Ilori said.
She added, “C19RM investments in emergency response mechanisms, supply chain resilience and rapid deployment capacity are now embedded in our health systems planning and programming.”
According to NACA, the COVID-19 Response Mechanism supported Nigeria’s efforts to mitigate the impact of the pandemic while strengthening critical components of the country’s health system and safeguarding gains made in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
The agency noted that the intervention funded improvements in disease surveillance, laboratory systems, infection prevention and control measures, oxygen infrastructure, cold-chain systems, healthcare workforce capacity and emergency response operations across the country.
Stakeholders at the close-out meeting reviewed the outcomes of the programme and explored ways to sustain the gains achieved after the conclusion of the grant.
The event also provided a platform for implementing partners to share innovations, best practices and lessons from the implementation process, while highlighting the impact of the intervention on healthcare delivery and public health preparedness.
The Executive Secretary of the Country Coordinating Mechanism Nigeria, Tajudeen Ibrahim, said the programme demonstrated the value of strong partnerships and local ownership in responding to health emergencies.
“The C19RM grant demonstrated the power of effective partnership, positioning, coordination, engagement, oversight and country ownership in responding to a public health emergency,” Ibrahim said.
He noted that beyond supporting Nigeria’s immediate response to COVID-19, the investments had strengthened critical health systems and expanded the country’s preparedness and response capacity for future pandemics and disease outbreaks.
“These investments have strengthened critical health systems and facilitated pandemic preparedness and response capacities that will continue to benefit the country for years to come. As we close this chapter, our focus must remain on sustaining these gains and leveraging the lessons learned to build a more resilient health system for all Nigerians,” he added.
Stakeholders also stressed that the close-out meeting was not only an opportunity to reflect on achievements recorded under the programme but also a call to deepen commitments towards building a stronger and more resilient healthcare system capable of responding effectively to future public health emergencies.
The event featured presentations from implementing agencies and partners, panel discussions, stakeholder reflections and the premiere of documentary and storytelling products capturing the impact of the intervention on communities across the country.
The Global Fund established the COVID-19 Response Mechanism in 2020 to help countries address the health, social and economic consequences of the coronavirus pandemic while protecting essential health services and preserving progress made against HIV, tuberculosis and malaria.
Nigeria was among the countries that benefited from the intervention, receiving support to strengthen testing and laboratory capacity, improve oxygen supply systems, enhance disease surveillance, reinforce emergency preparedness and build the capacity of health workers.
Health experts have consistently argued that one of the most important lessons from the COVID-19 pandemic is the need for sustained investment in public health infrastructure and preparedness systems. The pandemic exposed gaps in healthcare systems across the world, prompting governments and development partners to invest heavily in strengthening response capacities against future outbreaks.
With emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases continuing to pose threats globally, public health authorities say the systems and infrastructure established through the COVID-19 Response Mechanism could play a critical role in safeguarding Nigeria against future health emergencies.
