Pandemics Inevitable, Pate Warns, Calls for Stronger Health Preparedness
Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, has cautioned that future pandemics are inevitable, urging sustained investment in preparedness, stronger healthcare systems, and coordinated national response strategies.
Pate gave the warning on Monday at a high-level public health symposium held in Abuja, where experts and stakeholders gathered to examine lessons from past global health crises. The event, themed “Lessons on Pandemic Preparedness & Response: Insights from China and Nigeria,” featured his presentation titled “A Decade of Global Pandemic Experiences: Trends and Takeaways.”
Drawing from outbreaks such as HIV/AIDS, SARS, Ebola, Zika, and COVID-19, the minister stressed that infectious diseases remain a constant global threat with far-reaching consequences.
“Pandemics are not a matter of if, but when,” Pate said, noting that their effects go beyond public health to disrupt economies, livelihoods, and social systems.
He highlighted the severe global and national impacts of COVID-19, including economic contraction, supply chain disruptions, and pressure on public institutions. According to him, Nigeria has also faced economic slowdowns during past outbreaks due to reduced activity and widespread public anxiety.
Describing pandemics as both health and security challenges, Pate emphasized the need for cross-sector collaboration, including active involvement from security agencies. He called for increased investment in primary healthcare, expansion of the health workforce, improved access to affordable services, and strengthened disease surveillance and diagnostic systems.
He also advocated boosting local production of medical supplies to reduce reliance on external sources.
“As we look to the future, preparedness must be proactive and sustained. We must invest in systems that can detect, respond to, and prevent outbreaks before they escalate,” he added.
In his remarks, the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Adekunle, reinforced the urgency of preparedness, describing pandemics as defining events in human history. He warned that the lessons from COVID-19 must not be overlooked and called for a whole-of-society approach involving communities, private sector players, and development partners.
Adekunle further disclosed that the Federal Government is currently reviewing Nigeria’s healthcare system to improve service delivery, expand access, and strengthen emergency response capacity.
Stakeholders at the symposium stressed the need for Nigeria to build a more resilient health system capable of responding effectively to future outbreaks.
Goodwill messages were delivered by key partners, including Dr. Pavel Ursu of the World Health Organization, the Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria, Yu Dunhai, as well as representatives from academia and the health sector.
The keynote lecture, “Strengthening Pandemic Preparedness and Response: China Experience,” was delivered by George F. Gao, Director-General of the Institute of Microbiology, Chinese Academy of Sciences. He was later honoured with an Award of Excellence for his contributions to global health and pandemic response.
Senior government officials in attendance included representatives from the ministries of agriculture, livestock development, and environment, underscoring the cross-sector importance of pandemic preparedness.
