The Federal and State Governments on Friday approved lowering the minimum age for voluntary HIV/AIDS testing to 14, as long as the process is carried out using proper age-specific protocols and required procedures.
They also endorsed the introduction and rollout of the first National Guidelines for Sodium Reduction across all states and the Federal Capital Territory.
These decisions were part of a set of health sector reforms adopted by the National Council on Health, according to the Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom.
Kachollom presented the communiqué from the 66th National Council on Health meeting held in Calabar, Cross River State.
The council, led by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, evaluated 92 memoranda—approving 20, acknowledging 37, stepping down 27, and withdrawing eight.
The NCH consists of Health Commissioners from all 36 states and the FCT and serves as the highest governing body responsible for shaping, coordinating, and overseeing health policies and programs in Nigeria.
It plays a central role in national health governance by uniting key stakeholders from both federal and state levels, along with development partners, civil society groups, and regulatory bodies.
The communiqué stated that 1,243 delegates attended, including representatives from federal and state ministries of health, the FCT, international partners such as WHO, UNICEF, UNFPA, USAID, and the World Bank, as well as civil society and professional regulatory bodies.
The Council approved several memos, including directives requiring states and the FCT to implement the standard State Council on Health guidelines within three months, adopt the revised 2024 procedural guidelines for NCH meetings immediately, and commence the 2025 national guidelines for cervical cancer screening within six months, with progress to be reported subsequently.
Other approved items included the adoption and implementation of new national policies on cosmetic safety, sodium reduction, medical testing for food handlers, and chemical event surveillance. The Council also endorsed a framework enabling states to strengthen accountability in the health sector to qualify for incentives under the Primary Healthcare Provision Strengthening program.
Additionally, the Council approved lowering the age for voluntary HIV/AIDS testing to 14 years under strict compliance with legal procedures, appropriate guidance, and proper linkage to care for individuals who test positive.
They also supported funding and embedding the National Clinical Mentorship Programme within national and state health systems, and urged state health ministries to include it in their annual plans and budgets. The Council endorsed initiatives aimed at reducing maternal and newborn deaths and encouraged states to adopt and implement them.
Further, the Council approved the expansion of the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative for emergency preparedness and response, including capacity-building programs for states.
States and the FCT were encouraged to broaden nutritional supplementation programs, ensure training of frontline health workers, and receive continued technical support from federal agencies.
The Council adopted mandatory leadership and health systems training programs for mid-level managers, approved a cost-effective digital learning platform, and integrated performance reviews into monthly assessment mechanisms.
It also supported the planned rollout of a national CPR initiative, encouraged states to establish response teams, promote the installation of defibrillators in public locations, and ensure coordination within the Federal Ministry of Health.
The Council approved incorporating medical oxygen pipeline systems as a requirement for constructing new secondary and tertiary healthcare facilities. It also urged state tertiary health institutions to participate in quality improvement programs and comply with national guidelines on organ and tissue transplantation.
Vector control strategies using level source management were adopted, along with the creation of a multisectoral working group, phased rollout approach, and strong monitoring framework.
The Council created a National Digital Health Architecture and a Digital Health Transformation Office to unify digital health systems nationwide and encouraged states to hold regular State Council on Health meetings.
Finally, the Council confirmed that Commissioners of Health from 35 states and the FCT participated in the meeting and announced that the next National Council on Health session will be held in Nasarawa State in 2026.