The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Adekunle Salako, has emphasized the importance of the BRICS Association to achieve global health security.
Speaking at the 15th Meeting of Ministers of Health BRICS in Brasilia, Brazil, Salako highlighted the need for collaboration and exchange of knowledge between BRICS countries to address pressing health challenges.
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He said: “The world is currently facing several interconnected health challenges, including incidents of non -transmissible diseases, the constant threat of pandemics, climate change, antimicrobial resistance and health system disparities.
“These challenges require more strong South-South-South cooperation and greater global solidarity to share the best practices and resources to achieve the UN sustainable development goals and create a more equitable world.”
“The renewal investment initiative of the Health Sector of Nigeria aims to operationalize the renewed agenda of hope of the president, focusing on an effective government, efficient and equitable health systems, unlocking the health chains of health and health safety. Salako emphasized that these priorities are aligned with BRICS priorities.
Salako said Nigeria has achieved significant progress in medical care, including the introduction of HPV vaccine into its routine immunization program, which has vaccinated more than 14 million girls.
“The country has also mobilized additional $ 200 million to maintain its AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria program.”
He asked for a continuous association and the exchange of knowledge throughout the BRICS Health community to collectively advance in sustainable health financing and guarantee equitable access to quality medical care for all.
The minister, therefore, pointed out that collective efforts to address global health challenges would not only complement the efforts of individual countries, but also act as an impulse to ensure that SDG objective 3 is achieved collectively without leaving anyone behind.
“Humanity is a,” he said, asking for collaboration and cooperation to work towards the improvement of all.