…Launches $1bn HOPE Programme for Healthcare Reform
The Federal Executive Council (FEC) has approved ₦4.5 billion for the purchase of HIV treatment packs to support Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
This approval comes after the United States government granted an emergency humanitarian waiver, reversing an earlier decision to pause funding for HIV treatment in developing countries, including Nigeria.
The funding freeze had been introduced under US President Donald Trump as part of a broader review of foreign aid.
Nigeria has long relied on international funding, particularly from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), to support its HIV response.
With this new move, the Nigerian government plans to procure 150,000 treatment packs over the next four months to ensure uninterrupted access to medication.
Speaking after Monday’s FEC meeting, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, stressed the importance of the funding.
“This allocation is critical for ensuring that those living with HIV continue to receive necessary treatments without interruption,” he said.
To make sure HIV treatment remains accessible in the long term, FEC has also set up a committee to develop a sustainability plan. Members of the committee will be drawn from the ministries of finance, budget, defence, environment, and the Nigeria Governors’ Forum.
“This is about ensuring that no Nigerian loses access to treatment during this period of adjustment,” Pate added.
He acknowledged the contributions of the US government over the past 20 years but emphasised that Nigeria must now focus on building a more sustainable healthcare system with domestic financing.
FEC also approved the HOPE (Human Capital Opportunities for Prosperity and Equity) Programme, a $1 billion (₦1.4 trillion) initiative aimed at improving governance and strengthening primary healthcare across the country.
“This programme is very much in line with the direction of this administration—to focus on investing in the human capital of Nigerians. People are at the centre of the ‘Renewed Hope’ agenda,” Pate said.
The HOPE programme, developed in collaboration with the International Development Association, will allocate $500 million (₦746.7 billion) for governance reforms and another $500 million to strengthen primary healthcare.
The governance component will encourage states to recruit and train more teachers and healthcare workers, while the healthcare portion will focus on improving the quality of services and expanding access to care.
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