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FEC approves N4.8b for HIV treatment after Trump suspended aid

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Following the abrupt suspension of U.S. development assistance, the Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved a N4.8 billion funding package to sustain HIV treatment programs across the country.

This was disclosed on Monday by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, after a FEC meeting presided over by President Bola Tinubu at the Presidential Villa in Abuja.

Pate revealed at the post-FEC media briefing that the approved funds will cover the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs for HIV patients over the next four months.

The decision is particularly crucial as Nigeria faces the potential impact of recent policy changes to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been a critical source of HIV funding in the country.

Mr Pate noted that while global partners have played a pivotal role in providing treatment support, the federal government is now taking deliberate steps to invest in life-saving interventions for People Living with HIV (PLHIV) in Nigeria.

“This is an important signal that the federal government is committed to ensuring that life-saving treatments remain accessible, despite the changing dynamics in external support,” Mr Pate said.

Nigeria’s fight against HIV/AIDS has been significantly aided by international donors, particularly PEPFAR, which has provided billions of dollars in funding over the past two decades.

However, US Secretary of State Marco Rubio recently granted an “emergency humanitarian waiver,” allowing PEPFAR to resume operations in 55 countries, including Nigeria.

In response to these uncertainties, Mr Pate reassured stakeholders that the Nigerian government is proactively developing a transition and sustainability plan to address potential funding shortfalls.

Mr Pate revealed that the FEC discussed the implications of US policy changes on health programmes, particularly those addressing HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria.

“In light of the US government’s ongoing 90-day review of its development assistance policies, we have set up a committee comprising the Ministry of Finance, Ministry of Health, Ministry of Defense, Ministry of Environment, and the Governors’ Forum to develop a transition and sustainability plan,” he said.

“This is to ensure that Nigerians receiving treatment do not face disruptions.”

The committee’s mandate is to assess the implications of the US policy shift and devise strategies to ensure the continuity of critical health programmes.

Mr Pate further acknowledged the significant contributions made by the US over the past two decades but stressed that Nigeria is preparing to reduce its reliance on foreign aid.

“While we greatly appreciate the contributions of the US government over the last 20 years and look forward to continued collaboration, Nigeria under President Bola Tinubu is focused on transforming the health sector through national systems and domestic financing,” he said.

He said the goal is to ensure that no patient currently receiving treatment is left without care.