In response to recent reductions in foreign aid for key health programmes, the Federal Government has unveiled plans to establish a sustainable framework for self-reliance in financing essential health services across Nigeria.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, made the announcement at a one-day national workshop on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria in Abuja.
Prof. Pate noted that the evolving global funding landscape necessitates a shift towards country-led systems and full ownership of health programmes to ensure long-term impact and sustainability.
Stating that the workshop is a crucial step in charting a course for self-reliance in the health sector, the Minister urged state governors to allocate a portion of the additional revenues from recent fiscal gains towards essential health commodities and programme costs.
Also speaking at the event, the Director General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, said the meeting was convened to respond proactively to the changes in international health funding.
The workshop is expected to identify immediate funding gaps and develop intermediate and long-term strategies to reduce Nigeria’s reliance on external aid for critical health interventions.
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