The ongoing freeze in billions of dollars of global funding for U.S. health and education projects, including those in Nigeria, has sparked widespread concern. Fears are growing across the continent that the decision by the Donald Trump administration to halt funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) could undo the progress made in fighting diseases like malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV/AIDS.
In an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy program, Prof. Ali Pate, Nigeria’s Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, addressed the country’s readiness to cope with the consequences of the U.S. aid cut, particularly regarding the impact on health interventions. He also discussed the fate of the 28,000 Nigerian health workers who were previously funded by the now-suspended American program.
Excerpts from the interview:
On the Primary Challenges in Nigeria’s Health Sector:
“The main issue has been insufficient investment in our health infrastructure, human resources, and equipment. There has been a lack of national coordination in building a comprehensive health system, with federal, state, and local governments each taking their own approach. Revenue collection has been low, and health and education have often been deprioritized. However, under this administration’s Renewed Hope Agenda, human capital development has become a focus, and we’re beginning to see some improvements.”
“We are still a long way from transforming our system, especially since we’ve spent years without the necessary infrastructure, equipment, and human resources to provide effective healthcare services. Countries like the UK and US, where many Nigerians seek medical treatment, allocate large portions of their resources to healthcare. The UK, for example, spends over $4,000 per capita on healthcare, while Nigeria spends only $120 per capita, with only 30% of that coming from public financing. The disparity is clear.”
“In the past 18 months, we’ve seen significant efforts to improve investment in health, focusing on foundational healthcare, primary healthcare, cancer treatment infrastructure, teaching hospitals, medical equipment, human resources, and training. We’re also looking to reduce our dependency on imports, as more than 70% of our medicines and 99% of our medical devices are currently imported.”
On the Path Forward:
“While we can’t expect these changes to happen overnight, we’re making progress. The political will is there, as demonstrated by the federal government’s approval of nearly a billion dollars for health programs last week. This significant investment will help drive results over time.”
“Rather than complain, we need to take action. All 36 state governors have joined the federal government in this health journey, and we are urging private sector stakeholders, including hospitals, providers, and the pharmaceutical industry, to do their part. With collective effort, our healthcare system can improve and potentially serve not only Nigeria but other parts of the continent as well.”
“Currently, Nigeria’s health spending is split 30% public and 70% private. Overseas development assistance is not the largest portion of our health expenditure, but it has still played an important role. We must continue building our own capacity while leveraging external resources.”
