The Federal Government has initiated plans to increase domestic funding for the health sector, following the United States government’s decision to cut foreign aid to Nigeria and other developing nations.
The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Isiaq Salako, disclosed this during a visit to the Federal Medical Centre, Ebute-Metta, Lagos, on Friday.
According to Salako, the US government’s decision to cut foreign aid is a wake-up call for Nigeria to re-strategize and explore alternative funding sources.
“We are meeting with international organizations, including the World Health Organisation, the United Nations Development Programme, and the Global Fund, to discuss alternative funding sources,” he said.
Salako also revealed that the government is exploring crowdfunding options to support the HIV program, which is heavily reliant on US funding.
Additionally, the government is prioritizing cancer care, with a focus on expanding treatment possibilities, infrastructure, and awareness.
The US government’s decision to cut foreign aid is expected to have a significant impact on Nigeria’s health sector, which has historically relied heavily on international funding.
However, Salako expressed optimism that the government’s efforts to increase domestic health funding would help to mitigate the effects of the aid cut.
“It is a wake-up call for us to re-strategize, rethink the way we do things and ensure that we also are able to exert ourselves and create some level of independence within our system,” he said.
