TRIBUNE ONLINE
In response to the recent 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.
The announcement was made on Monday by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Muhammad Ali Pate, following 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.
This move, he said, reflects the government’s commitment to safeguarding the health of vulnerable populations, even as Nigeria navigates the challenges posed by shifting international support.
“The Presidential Treatment Programme for HIV patients has been approved, with a total of N4.8 billion allocated for the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over four months.
“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,” Pate stated.
According to Pate, even before the US government aid suspension as Nigeria continued to receive support from international partners in the fight against HIV, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria, Pate emphasized that the government decided to take more responsibility by investing domestic resources into critical health programs.
The minister also addressed concerns regarding the potential impact of the U.S. government’s suspension of aid, which has historically supported Nigeria’s healthcare sector, particularly in combating HIV, TB, and malaria…
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