By Adetokunbo FAKEYE
As Nigeria and Brazil opened a new chapter in bilateral cooperation on health and other development reforms at the ongoing President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s state visit to South America, the Honourable Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Kunle Salako, joined high-level talks with Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.
According to President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, at the meeting, the visit is the “restart of Nigeria-Brazil relationship”.
Both presidents demonstrated an inspiring brotherhood and an uncommon commitment to strengthened South-South cooperation for the benefit of the two countries.
During the high level bilateral interaction, of ministers and senior government officials, Nigeria proposed the development of a Five-Year Joint Action Plan to operationalize the Memorandum of Understanding signed in July between Nigeria’s Federal Ministry of Health and Brazil’s Ministry of Health.
The plan is expected to guide structured cooperation in areas such as research, health systems strengthening, and pharmaceutical development.
Nigeria also proposed the idea of a strategic government-to-government procurement deal to enhance efficiency and access to essential medical supplies in both countries’ health sectors.
Dr. Salako, who has been vocal about Nigeria’s Health Sector Renewal Initiative under the Renewed Hope Agenda, described the proposals as “critical steps toward building sustainable health partnership that will benefit citizens of both nations”.
