Yemi Obafemi
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Iziaq Salako, says about 78 per cent of federal hospitals in Nigeria have now been digitised, marking a major step forward in the country’s healthcare modernization efforts.
Speaking on Channels Television’s Politics Today on Thursday, Salako assured Nigerians that the nation’s health security system remains robust and fully prepared for global disease outbreaks.
“We have no cause for panic. There is 24/7 preparedness and constant surveillance to ensure health security,” he said. According to him, Nigeria’s capacity to detect and prevent pandemics has improved significantly, rising from 39 per cent to 55 per cent.
He also cautioned against mislabeling common flu symptoms as COVID-19, stressing the importance of proper diagnosis.
On the country’s long-standing struggle to produce vaccines locally, Salako explained that Nigeria is not yet able to manufacture vaccines due to several economic and technological limitations.
“Unfortunately, not,” he said when asked about local vaccine development. He noted that under the Presidential Initiative for Unlocking the Health Value Chain, the government is working to encourage local production, but key factors must be considered.
“It is not enough to just say you want to produce vaccines. You must first consider comparative advantage. If producing locally costs more than importing, then it defeats the purpose,” he explained.
Salako added that vaccine development involves “high-end technology” and must align with global usage standards to be viable. “When you produce a vaccine that is not globally used, that’s a challenge… we can’t rush into it,” he said.
The minister reiterated that while Nigeria continues to build capacity, strategic planning and economic analysis remain essential to achieving sustainable local vaccine production.
