The Federal Ministry of Health and other stakeholders yesterday inaugurated a five-year national action plan for health security in the country.

The National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) which spans 2018 to 2018 is worth N135 billion at N27 billion naira per years for five years.

Speaking during the launch in Abuja, Minister of Health, Prof Isaac Adewole said the successful implementation of the plan would contribute significantly to the overall goal of improving national, regional and global health security, especially with the country’s large population and position in Africa.

The minister said that the National Action Plan for Health Security (NAPHS) would help maintain active collaboration across sectors, using a One Health approach.

Stating that the country needed to be prepared to protect all Nigerians against future epidemic threats, he called on ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), partners, civil society, private sectors, and the public to join in the implementation of the plan.

Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, Director General, Nigeria Centre for Disease Control, said there was a need for all stakeholders to come together to jointly own the response across the 19 areas, such as surveillance, port health, and immunization, among others to achieve desired results.