Nigeria Wants Ongoing Reforms in The World Health Organisation to Open Up New Funding Avenues
The decision by the President of the United States of America, Donald Trump, a major contributor to World Health Organisation (WHO) through several executive actions that have fundamentally changed foreign assistance has made availability of funds for health related matters difficult . These included: an executive order which called for a 90-day review of foreign aid; a subsequent “stop-work order” that froze all payments and services for work already underway; the dissolution of United States Agency for International Development (USAID), including the reduction of most staff and contractors; and the cancellation of most foreign assistance awards. These steps have affected the activities in the health sector of many nations especially the third world countries.
This changing financial landscape in global health has led to an acceleration of health sector reforms in the most populous country in Africa using the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a key component of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. This was made known at the ongoing World Health Assembly (WHA) in Geneva, Switzerland by Nigeria’s Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr, Iziaq Adekunle Salako.
In a speech made available to nigerianecho.com.ng by Agba’kin Wale Junaid his Special Assistant on Media and Strategy, the Minister said Nigeria believes that sustainable funding for health is more domestic funding, smarter spending and cost effective programming. He enjoined the Director General of the WHO, Dr.Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, to open up new funding avenues.
“We proudly welcome the adoption of the pandemic agreement and congratulate all of us for the adoption. It is a challenging time in the global framework for healthcare funding, and we commend the DG for the deep reforms that he is bringing to the organization. We will like to encourage the DG on the ongoing reforms in the WHO to open up new funding avenues.
“Nigeria believes that sustainable funding for health is more domestic funding, smarter spending and cost effective programming. The changing financial landscape in global health has led to an acceleration of health sector reforms in my county using the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, a key component of the Renewed Hope Agenda of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu.
“There is greater emphasis on domestic resources mobilization, unlocking healthcare value chain, revitalization of the primary health care system, expansion of health insurance which has grown by about 15% in the last 2 years, deployment of digital technology for health, phytomedicine resources, health promotion and disease prevention.
“We have introduced HPV vaccine into our routine immunization schedule and with the support of WHO and Gavi vaccinated 12 million girls (9 – 14 years) as a key strategy to prevent cervical cancer. In our 2025 budget, we mobilized an additional 200m USD as our immediate response to dwindling ODA in order to sustain our AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Programme.”
Salako appreciated the leadership of WHO for giving Nigeria the opportunity to serve as Interim Regional Director of WHO AFRO through Dr. Chikwe Ihekweazu and for his new role as Executive Director of WHO Health Emergencies Programme.
