The Federal Government has promised that members of the Nigerian Armed Forces will be fully integrated into the National Health Insurance Authority, guaranteeing access to comprehensive healthcare for service members, their families, and eligible retirees.
The Minister of State for Defence, Bello Matawalle, made the disclosure on Tuesday in Abuja during the celebration of the 20th anniversary of the Ministry of Defence Health Implementation Programme’s partnership with the Walter Reed Army Institute of Research Africa.
Matawalle said the initiative would strengthen the resilience of Nigeria’s defence health system while ensuring that soldiers and their dependents enjoy the same health safeguards as other citizens under the NHIA.
“We must shape the next 20 years with national security and the National Health Insurance Authority, ensuring that our forces are covered by national health and well-being safeguards for service members, their families, and eligible civilians—extending across postings and into retirement,” he said.
The minister stressed that the health of the military was a matter of national security, noting that preventive healthcare and insurance coverage would guarantee operational readiness.
“The health of our armed forces is preserved for the security of our nation. When illness is prevented, protection and unity remain operational missions,” he added.
Matawalle also pointed out that the defence health partnership had already impacted more than half a million Nigerians, both military and civilians, saving lives, building infrastructure, and boosting public confidence in military-led healthcare.
The Chief of Defence Staff, General Christopher Musa, said the NHIA integration was a crucial step in ensuring that soldiers remained fit to defend the country.
He described the 20-year-old partnership with Walter Reed as a model of international collaboration that had already transformed Nigeria’s military health system.
According to him, the partnership, founded on “service, science, and sacrifice,” had strengthened 32 military health facilities across the country, delivered far-reaching benefits to civilian communities, and preserved the lives of thousands of soldiers and civilians through interventions in HIV prevention, COVID-19 response, and other disease outbreaks.
Musa added that investments in research, laboratory infrastructure, and training had placed Nigeria in a strong position to respond to future health threats.
He cited the Defence Reference Laboratory in Abuja—accredited by the American Association for Laboratory Accreditation—as a landmark facility and a symbol of best practice.
“Beyond the statistics and infrastructure, we must recognise the human narratives of resilience and hope facilitated by this partnership,” Musa said.
The United States Ambassador to Nigeria, Richard Mills Jr., described the partnership as a demonstration of mutual trust and respect between Nigeria and the U.S., noting that it had preserved military readiness, tackled global health challenges, and saved countless lives.
Commanding General of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Development Command, Major General Paula Lodi, said the partnership had grown from a shared vision in 2005 to confront HIV, malaria, and other infectious diseases, while building laboratory and research capacities that influenced health policy beyond Nigeria’s borders.
“Together, we have delivered life-saving treatment, fostered innovation, and trained professionals who continue to strengthen health systems—not just for today’s challenges, but for those of the future,” she said.
Since its inception, the programme has recorded significant milestones. A total of 1,628,414 clients have been tested and counselled for HIV, out of which 110,097 tested positive. About 69,447 adults and children have been newly initiated on Antiretroviral Therapy (ART), with 40,702 currently on treatment. In all, 77,162 adults and children have ever been enrolled on ART.
In addition, 277,975 pregnant women now know their HIV status, 15,098 of them tested positive, and 13,377 received ART to prevent mother-to-child transmission of the disease.
Matawalle said these figures underscored the importance of integrating military personnel into health insurance coverage, which would guarantee not only sustainability of care but also long-term operational effectiveness.
“As we mark this anniversary, we renew our collective resolve to keep the health of our armed forces at the heart of national defence. The force that guarantees peace is resilience and mission orientation. Let us commit to leaving behind a defence health system that is not only robust, but innovative, intensive, and spiritually prepared for future threats, while safeguarding the well-being of the men and women who serve our country,” the minister declared.
Punch Newspapers
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