The Federal Government has stressed the need for stronger regional collaboration and sustained political commitment to improve health systems across West Africa.
Declaring open the 25th plenary session of the West Africa Health Sector Unions Network in Abuja, the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, highlighted the interconnected nature of healthcare in the region.
He reaffirmed Nigeria’s support for the Accra Reset initiative, aimed at strengthening African sovereignty in healthcare through increased domestic investment and policies tailored to local needs.
Addressing labour relations, the minister who acknowledged longstanding concerns within the health workforce and ongoing negotiations with unions, assured stakeholders of the government’s commitment to resolving outstanding issues through good faith dialogue and existing collective bargaining mechanisms.
In his remarks, Chairman of the West African Health Sector Unions Network, Kabiru Minjibir, called for urgent and coordinated action to tackle the growing health workforce crisis, insecurity, and underfunding across the region.
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Minjibir urged governments to see trade unions as partners in strengthening health systems, emphasizing their role in grassroots engagement and policy advocacy.
Delegates from across the region, including Ghana, Sierra Leone, Liberia, Benin, Niger and Mali, are attending the conference.
