Nigeria Seeks Local Funding to Bridge $100M Gap in HIV, TB, and Malaria Programs
The Country Coordinating Mechanism (CCM) Nigeria for the Global Fund and the National Assembly are urging stronger domestic collaboration to address a critical $100 million funding shortfall for HIV, Tuberculosis (TB), and Malaria interventions nationwide.
Funding Crisis Emerges at Health Sector Retreat
The call for action came during the 70th Annual Retreat and General Assembly Meeting of CCM Nigeria, held in Lagos as part of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare’s health sector reform initiative. The gathering focused on expanding healthcare access and improving health outcomes across Nigeria.
Global Fund Cuts Allocation by 11%
The funding gap follows an 11% reduction in Nigeria’s Global Fund Grant Cycle 7 allocation. The original $933 million allocation for 2024-2026 has been reduced to approximately $830 million, creating significant challenges for disease response programs.
Dr. Jean-Thomas Nouboussi, Nigeria’s Country Portfolio Manager, emphasized the need for local resource mobilization: “With the support of the Senate and representatives, Nigeria can raise additional resources to fill these gaps and begin discussing long-term sustainability.”
Urgent Call for Domestic Resource Mobilization
CCM Executive Secretary Ibrahim Tajudeen warned about the threats posed by shifting global health funding trends: “If we don’t take proactive measures, we might lose the health gains made over the last 20 years. Mobilizing domestic funding is crucial to sustaining our progress.”
Nigeria has achieved significant milestones with international support, including reducing HIV prevalence from 5.8% to 1.3%, cutting malaria rates from 42% to 22%, and identifying 400,000 TB cases in 2024 alone.
National Assembly Demands Stronger Oversight
Rt. Hon. Amobi Godwin Ogah, Chair of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Malaria, and Leprosy Control, called for enhanced accountability: “We must ensure transparency in resource allocation and hold programs accountable for every kobo received to truly benefit Nigerians.”
Ogah proposed including National Assembly representation on the CCM board to strengthen legislative oversight and improve coordination in achieving universal healthcare goals.
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