Nigeria’s healthy life expectancy at birth stood at 54.1 years in 2023, according to estimates by the World Health Organisation (WHO), the Federal Government has disclosed.
The government said the figure highlights the need to strengthen preventive healthcare, improve access to essential health services and encourage Nigerians to adopt healthier lifestyles.
The Permanent Secretary of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Daju Kachollom S. mni, disclosed this on Thursday in Abuja while representing the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, at the 2026 National Health Promotion Day ministerial press briefing.
The event, held under the theme “Health Promotion: Owning My Health,” focused on encouraging Nigerians to take responsibility for their health through prevention, early diagnosis and timely medical intervention.
Kachollom said health promotion was essential to improving health outcomes and reducing the burden of preventable diseases across the country.
“According to WHO estimates, Nigerians’ healthy life expectancy at birth, the number of years a person can expect to live in full health, was 54.1 years in 2023,” she said.
She added that health promotion was intended to extend the number of years Nigerians could expect to live in good health.
The Permanent Secretary also highlighted progress in reducing under-five mortality, which fell from 132 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 110 in 2024.
However, she said neonatal mortality increased from 39 deaths per 1,000 live births in 2018 to 41 in 2024, showing that significant challenges remained in newborn survival.
“These figures reflect progress in some areas and persistent challenges in others,” she said.
“They reinforce the need to accelerate prevention, early detection, and timely access to quality care.”
Kachollom stressed that health promotion should be treated as a strategic investment in the healthcare system rather than merely an awareness campaign.
“Health promotion equips people to make informed decisions, empowers communities to address health risks, and encourages action on social, economic, and environmental conditions that influence health,” she said.
She said the Federal Government’s health sector renewal investment initiative prioritised maternal and child health, stronger primary healthcare, expanded immunisation and the prevention and control of non-communicable diseases.
The initiative also targets HIV, tuberculosis and malaria, with health promotion playing a key role in encouraging early diagnosis and appropriate health-seeking behaviour.
According to her, the ministry and its partners are supporting interventions in hypertension detection, hepatitis elimination, cervical cancer prevention and screening, improved nutrition and immunisation.
She, however, emphasised that public awareness must be matched with accessible and affordable healthcare services.
“A person who understands the importance of screening must be able to access it. A patient diagnosed early must be able to obtain appropriate treatment. And everyone who enters a health facility must receive safe, respectful, and quality care,” she said.
Kachollom called for stronger collaboration among government institutions, healthcare workers, families, schools, traditional and religious leaders, the media, civil society organisations and the private sector to promote healthier communities.
She urged Nigerians to know their health risks, participate in recommended screening and immunisation programmes, maintain healthy diets and seek medical attention promptly when necessary.
“Take charge by seeking factual health information, knowing your health risks, participating in recommended screening and immunisation, and seeking medical attention promptly when necessary,” she said.
Earlier, the Director of the Health Promotion Division of the ministry, Mr. John Uruakpa, disclosed that more than 20 million Nigerians had been reached with health promotion messages through radio, social media and community outreach.
Uruakpa said Nigeria began commemorating National Health Promotion Day on October 29, 2024, following approval by the 64th National Council on Health.
He said the initiative had strengthened partnerships with stakeholders, supported the training of health educators and community organisers, and promoted healthier schools and communities.
“Health begins with each one of us. When individuals and families know their numbers, make healthy choices and succeed, the whole nation is better off,” he said.
He added that the ministry was working with stakeholders to extend health promotion activities to states, schools, communities and primary healthcare centres to encourage preventive practices and behavioural change.
The Federal Government reiterated its commitment to strengthening preventive healthcare and improving access to essential health services to reduce avoidable illnesses and improve the well-being of Nigerians.