Fashola Joins Public Health Board, Boosts Fight Against Heart Disease and Epidemics

Abuja, Nigeria – Babatunde Raji Fashola, SAN, a former Lagos State Governor and immediate past Minister of Works and Housing, has been appointed to the Board of Directors of Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria (RTSL Nigeria). The significant appointment, announced on Friday, is expected to bolster the organization’s efforts in combating cardiovascular diseases and preventing epidemics across the nation.

RTSL Nigeria, a prominent international public health organization, focuses on implementing evidence-based strategies to reduce preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases and strengthen health security to rapidly detect and respond to infectious disease outbreaks. Their work involves close collaboration with the Nigerian government and other partners at both national and subnational levels.

Dr. Tom Frieden, President and CEO of Resolve to Save Lives (the global entity), expressed enthusiasm for Fashola’s appointment, citing his more than two decades of public service and commitment to improving lives in Nigeria. “Mr. Fashola has demonstrated a commitment to improving lives and livelihoods in Nigeria through more than two decades of public service,” Frieden stated. “We look forward to working with him as we continue our mission to accelerate action against the world’s deadliest health threats and save millions of lives.”

Fashola’s extensive experience in public service, including his tenure as a two-term Governor of Lagos State (2007-2015) and later as a federal minister overseeing critical infrastructure, is seen as a valuable asset. Notably, his role in preventing the 2014 Ebola outbreak from becoming a full-blown crisis in Nigeria has been widely acknowledged.

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In accepting the appointment, Mr. Fashola conveyed his honor, acknowledging RTSL Nigeria’s impressive progress. “I am honored to join the Board of Directors at Resolve to Save Lives Nigeria,” he said. “RTSL Nigeria and its partners have made impressive progress to stop preventable deaths from cardiovascular diseases and infectious disease outbreaks.”

This appointment underscores the increasing recognition of multi-sectoral collaboration in addressing public health challenges. Fashola’s proven administrative acumen and experience in large-scale public initiatives are expected to significantly contribute to RTSL Nigeria’s strategic direction and impact. The organization’s key focus areas include legal preparedness, surveillance and epidemiology, emergency preparedness and response, and public health laboratory systems.