By Nigeria’s Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Mohammed Ali Pate, has assured that the country is actively addressing funding and policy gaps in its healthcare system following the recent cuts in US health funding.
Speaking at an interactive session with the House Committee on AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria, Pate acknowledged that while the US decision was unexpected, its impact has been mitigated by government interventionsand collaborative efforts across federal, state, and local levels.
House Committee Chairman Amobi Ogah stressed the importance of sustained funding for critical disease control programs and proposed the establishment of a Healthcare Sector Trust Fund to bridge financial shortfalls. He reaffirmed the National Assembly’s support for health sector reforms.
The US funding cuts have raised concerns across Africa, where millions rely on foreign aid for life-saving healthcare. Nigeria, a major beneficiary, faces potential setbacks in malaria control efforts, as reductions in funding could limit access to mosquito nets, antimalarial drugs, and rapid diagnostic tests.
In response, the federal government has allocated an additional $200 million in the 2025 budget for vaccines and disease treatment. Nigeria has also secured $1.57 billion from the World Bank, including $570 million for primary healthcare and $500 million for infrastructure projects supporting healthcare services.
