Health
Gbajabiamila, Pate call for stronger collaboration for Nigerian health security
The Chief of Staff to the President, Femi Gbajabiamila, has emphasized that collective responsibility remains vital to building a healthier and safer Nigeria. He urged citizens to place greater focus on prevention and preparedness as central pillars for strengthening the nation’s public health systems.
This is as the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, emphasized that investing in infection control, hygiene, and antimicrobial resistance not only saves countless lives but also strengthens the nation’s health system.
Speaking in Abuja on Monday at the 10th anniversary of the DRASA Health Trust, Gbajabiamila commended the organization for a decade of consistent efforts in infection prevention, outbreak response, and health education, describing its work as crucial to Nigeria’s health security and sustainable development.
DRASA Health Trust was established in memory of Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, who lost her life after bravely containing Nigeria’s first Ebola case in July 2014.
When Liberian-American Patrick Sawyer arrived in Lagos showing symptoms of the virus, Dr. Adadevoh recognized the threat, enforced quarantine measures, and prevented a potential nationwide outbreak sacrificing her own life in the process.
The Chief of Staff noted that no government can tackle public health challenges in isolation, calling on citizens, communities, and civil society groups to work together to strengthen health systems across the country.
“Government can only do so much. In Nigeria or anywhere else, true progress requires collective effort. Governance is about all of us pulling together,” he said.
On this, Gbajabiamila described DRASA Health Trust as a model of proactive health engagement, stressing that public health must be viewed as a shared responsibility among government institutions and the wider community.
“This is what we need, institutions that sensitise people and promote the principle that prevention is better than cure. We must act before problems arise, not after damage is done.
“Health is wealth, and a healthy nation is a wealthy nation. DRASA embodies preparedness, prevention, and collective responsibility. That’s exactly the mindset Nigeria needs,” he added.
Gbajabiamila also paid tribute to the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh, whose courage during the 2014 Ebola outbreak saved millions of lives. “Imagine what might have happened if she hadn’t put others before herself. Her selflessness should inspire us all to act with courage and think beyond our personal interests,” he said.
On his part, the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Ali Pate, urged Nigerians to learn from the sacrifice of the late Dr. Ameyo Stella Adadevoh by investing more deliberately in disease prevention and health security.
Pate described Dr. Adadevoh’s courage, which helped avert a catastrophic Ebola outbreak in 2014, as a timeless reminder of how individual responsibility can safeguard an entire nation.
Represented by Dr. Nse Akpan, the Director of Port Health Services at the Ministry commended DRASA for transforming personal tragedy into a national movement for prevention and resilience, noting its achievements in training over 15,700 health workers, mobilizing nearly 100,000 Health Champions, and supporting key health policies.
“Every naira invested in infection control, hygiene, and antimicrobial resistance saves countless lives and strengthens our health system,” he said.
Pate urged the government, private sector, and communities to “Walk with DRASA” into its next decade by supporting its plan to train 50,000 more health workers and expand its grassroots network.
“As we honour Dr. Adadevoh’s heroism, we must all accept that health security is everyone’s business,” he added.
Earlier, the Chief Executive Officer of DRASA Health Trust, Dr. Niniola Williams, reflected on the organization’s journey since its founding in 2015, describing it as “born out of tragedy but built on purpose.”
She recalled the moment that inspired DRASA’s creation: “My aunt said, ‘I think I have a patient with Ebola. Don’t tell anyone.’ That decision cost her life but saved millions.”
Dr. Williams said what began as a memorial initiative has evolved into a national institution dedicated to disease prevention and infection control.
“Over the past decade, DRASA has trained thousands of frontline health workers, equipped hospitals and border posts with infection control skills, and contributed to 28 national and sub-national health policies,” noted.
She highlighted stories that reflect the organization’s impact, a young Health Champion teaching disease prevention in her church, a nurse transforming her hospital practice after DRASA’s training, and rapid nationwide training during COVID-19.
“Ten years on, we have grown from a memorial tribute into a national institution shaping how Nigeria prevents disease and protects health,” she said.
However, Dr. Williams said DRASA’s next decade will focus on building resilient clinics, reliable protocols, and empowered communities through the establishment of the DRASA Academy, a hub for training 50,000 additional health workers and advancing infection prevention and control practices nationwide.
She also announced plans to integrate antimicrobial resistance education into schools, expand youth leadership in health governance, and set up Centres of Excellence in all six geopolitical zones.
“We are formalizing youth participation so that those who will inherit this system help design it now,” she said.
As part of the anniversary celebration, DRASA launched its Endowment Fund and premiered a documentary chronicling its decade-long journey.
Dr. Williams urged stakeholders to increase investment in prevention, warning that underfunding could leave Nigeria vulnerable to preventable diseases and misinformation.
“A Nigeria without DRASA’s support is a Nigeria more vulnerable to disease, panic, and avoidable economic loss,” she cautioned.
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