Odita Sunday 
Defence Ministry Intensifies Health Campaign as Perm Sec Praises Anti-HIV Efforts
In a renewed push to strengthen healthcare delivery within Nigeria’s military community, the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Defence, Richard Pheelangwah, has lauded the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme (MoD-HIP) for its frontline role in combating HIV/AIDS and other public health threats.
Speaking during a familiarisation visit to the MoD-HIP Programme Office in Abuja, Pheelangwah described the initiative as critical to safeguarding the health and operational effectiveness of Armed Forces personnel and their families.
He emphasised that the well-being of military families remains central to national security, assuring that the Ministry would deepen its support by strengthening governance structures and expanding the programme’s reach to benefit more Nigerians.
The Permanent Secretary also commended the programme’s rapid achievements since inception, urging its leadership to prioritise strategic partnerships and increased investment in digital health systems to enhance service delivery.
In his remarks, the Director-General of MoD-HIP, Babatunde Solebo, said the visit underscored strong leadership and institutional backing. He noted that the programme currently operates across 18 states, including the Federal Capital Territory, focusing on HIV/AIDS, COVID-19, mental health, and broader public health preparedness.
Solebo highlighted ongoing collaborations with key institutions such as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the Nigeria Customs Service, and the United States Embassy, among others.
According to him, the programme also plays a vital role in preventing mother-to-child transmission of HIV, while supporting vulnerable military families through scholarships and skills acquisition initiatives.
He identified staff expansion, improved funding frameworks, and infrastructural development including plans for an Armed Forces College of Medicine as key priorities for sustaining and scaling the programme.
Earlier, the Country Director of the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa in Nigeria, Helina Meri, reaffirmed the United States’ commitment to supporting MoD-HIP, noting that the partnership has strengthened both administrative and technical capacities of the programme.
Senior officials from the Ministry of Defence, MoD-HIP headquarters, and partner organisations were present at the event.
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