By Hassan Hussain
The World Health Organisation, WHO, has called for stronger international cooperation and greater country ownership of health systems amid declining development assistance for health.
WHO Representative in Nigeria, Dr Parel Ursu, made the call at the second Health Diplomacy Dialogue with members of the diplomatic community in Abuja.
Dr Ursu said the dialogue was established to promote strategic information sharing between WHO and diplomatic missions, provide evidence-based information on emerging health issues, and strengthen engagement of regional and global health priorities.
He explained that the platform would also enable diplomats to obtain first-hand information on disease outbreaks, global health developments and other critical issues affecting Nigeria and the international community.
The WHO representative noted that the global health architecture was undergoing significant changes, with member states reviewing existing arrangements to improve coordination and strengthen the effectiveness of international health cooperation.
He said the process, which is taking place alongside the broader United Nations reform agenda, requires active participation by member states through their respective capitals and engagements in Geneva.
Dr Ursu also drew attention to the decline in development assistance for health, stressing the need for countries, particularly in the Global South, to assume greater leadership in financing and strengthening their health systems.
He cited the Accra Reset initiative as part of ongoing efforts to address the changing development assistance landscape and encourage countries to take greater responsibility for their health priorities.
The WHO representative expressed optimism that the Health Diplomacy Dialogue would remain an active and evolving platform, shaped by the information needs and contributions of participating diplomatic missions.
According to him the meeting will also featured discussions on health security, emerging disease outbreaks and preparations for the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled to hold in Abuja from December 6 to 8, 2026.
The conference is expected to bring together global stakeholders to advance coordinated action against antimicrobial resistance through the One Health approach.
highlighting challenges affecting disease prevention and control in Nigeria, WHO, Emergency Preparedness and Response Cluster Lead, Dr Aley Chimbaru, called for sustained investment in Nigeria’s health security, immunisation, disease surveillance and water, sanitation and hygiene infrastructure to prevent outbreaks and strengthen emergency response.
Dr Chimbaru identified inadequate funding, low immunisation coverage, insecurity, population displacement and poor sanitation as major factors undermining efforts to contain preventable diseases.
He stressed the need for a multi-hazard preparedness and response approach, noting that Nigeria faces several public health threats requiring coordinated action by government institutions and development partners.
The WHO official also emphasised the importance of strengthening laboratory networks, disease surveillance, emergency operations centres and rapid response teams to ensure early detection and effective management of outbreaks.
He noted that gaps in routine immunisation had left many children vulnerable to vaccine-preventable diseases, including polio and measles, while funding shortfalls continued to affect immunisation and outbreak response activities.
Dr Chimbaru said Nigeria’s experience with integrated vaccination campaigns showed that coordinated interventions could reduce the impact of outbreaks, but called for greater investment in routine immunisation to reach underserved communities.
He explained that WHO, UNICEF, Médecins Sans Frontières and other development partners had supported government efforts through surveillance, case management, logistics, risk communication, water-quality monitoring and cross-border collaboration.
The WHO official also stressed the need to strengthen water, sanitation and hygiene services, particularly in communities affected by insecurity and displacement, to reduce the risk of cholera and other waterborne diseases.
On the transition towards greater national ownership of humanitarian health interventions, Dr Chimbaru said the process should focus on building sustainable government-led systems rather than withdrawing life-saving services.
He urged development partners and the diplomatic community to sustain support for Nigeria’s health institutions, primary healthcare services and frontline workers, warning that effective health security was essential for national stability and development.
In a remark,
The WHO Team Lead on Health System Strengthening, Dr. Maryam Brantuo,
warned that antimicrobial resistance, AMR, poses a growing threat to human health, food security and global economic development, with projections indicating millions of deaths if urgent action is not taken.
While highlighting key priorities ahead of the Fifth Global High-Level Ministerial Conference on Antimicrobial Resistance, scheduled to hold in Abuja, Nigeria, from December 6 to 8, 2026, Dr. Brantuo said antimicrobial resistance is already associated with about one million deaths annually in the African region, while global projections indicate that it could contribute to as many as thirty-nine million deaths between 2025 and 2050 if decisive measures are not implemented.
She noted that the consequences extend beyond the health sector, with global economic losses projected to reach 1.7 trillion dollars annually by 2050, alongside increasing threats to livestock production and food security.
The WHO official explained that antimicrobial resistance disproportionately affects low-income countries and populations with weaker health systems, highlighting significant inequalities in access to effective treatment and universal health coverage.
Dr. Brantuo also cited global evidence showing that one in every six laboratory-confirmed bacterial infections is resistant to available antibiotics, making some infections increasingly difficult to treat.
She called on the diplomatic community and other stakeholders to use the Abuja conference to strengthen political commitment, contribute to the development of global and regional action frameworks, and mobilise sustainable financing for the fight against antimicrobial resistance.
Dr. Brantuo said Nigeria’s role goes beyond hosting the conference, noting that the country has an opportunity to help shape the next phase of the global response through meaningful engagement, stronger partnerships and accountability.
She stressed that antimicrobial resistance threatens decades of progress in health, food systems and economic development, urging countries to translate global commitments into practical actions that will deliver measurable results for individuals and communities.
