Health stakeholders urge increased funding for HIV, TB, and malaria programs

Health sector stakeholders in Abuja are calling for increased government funding for HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), and malaria programs due to declining support from international donors. During a media roundtable regarding a Global Fund-supported community monitoring project, officials emphasized the need for governments to take greater responsibility by increasing counterpart funding and ensuring the timely release of resources.

Nathaniel Salifu-King, FCT State Chair of the TB Network, highlighted the importance of Integrated Community-Led Monitoring (I-CLM). This initiative, implemented by the TB Network, the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN), and the Civil Society for Malaria Control, Immunisation and Nutrition (ACOMIN) in collaboration with the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, aims to improve accountability and identify healthcare delivery gaps.

Local officials noted that the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) utilizes various diagnostic tools, such as GeneXpert and Truenat machines, to manage TB. To improve healthcare access, thousands of individuals receiving services for these diseases have been registered under the FCT Health Insurance Scheme. Stakeholders stressed that sustained community-led interventions are essential to prevent poverty, stigma, and social exclusion from hindering access to essential medical services.