Reps Want Health Budget Jerked Up

The House of Representatives has urged the federal government to consider an upward review of the 2025 budgetary allocations to the health sector given President Donald Trump’s United States Global Health Policy.

This followed the adoption of a motion of urgent public importance moved by Hon. Kwamoti Bitrus Laori (PDP, Adamawa) at plenary on Thursday.

Moving the motion, Laori recalled that on January 28, 2025, President Donald Trump of the United States of America issued an executive order that affects the US Policy on Global Health Security.

“The Executive Order also halted all forms of funding of existing health programs by the United States through the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), aimed at addressing maternal and child health, family planning, malaria prevention, and tuberculosis control, including funding for immunisation campaigns and health education.

Cumulatively, these developments signal a pivotal moment for healthcare in Nigeria and Africa,” he said.

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The lawmaker said that in 2023 alone, the United States invested over $600 million in health assistance in Nigeria, which supported various healthcare programmes, strengthened health systems, and addressed the region’s current and future health security threats.

“Organisations like Planned Parenthood Federation of Nigeria (PPFN) and programs such as PEPFAR, which provides funding for HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment and supports antiretroviral therapy for millions of Nigerians; the USAID programs to address maternal and child health, family planning, malaria prevention, tuberculosis control, immunisation campaigns and health education; the Global Health Security Agenda (GHSA) which seeks to bolster Nigeria’s ability to prevent, detect, and respond to infectious disease threats and emergency response planning.

“The Presidential Malaria Initiative (PMI) focuses on reducing malaria-related deaths and illnesses by providing funding for insecticide-treated nets, antimalarial medications, and community awareness programs; Nutrition Programs to combat malnutrition among children and pregnant women, improving dietary practices and accessing nutrient-rich foods and the COVID-19 Response that provides vaccine distribution, public health messaging, and strengthening healthcare infrastructure to respond to COVID-19 are all likely to be adversely affected by lack of funding.

“An estimated 1.9 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS depend on free Antiretroviral therapy provided by the United States and other initiatives targeted at Tuberculosis Control, Malaria treatment, maternal and Child health care, family planning, nutrition aimed at reducing disease burdens, and enhancing overall health outcomes in Nigeria are under imminent threat of funding and the implication is that many Nigerians faces death.

“These US-funded programs collectively play a vital role in addressing Nigeria’s public health challenges, and the implications of U.S. policies on these initiatives will be crucial for future health outcomes in the coming days and months if nothing is done,” he added.

Adopting the motion, the House mandated its relevant committees to seek alternative sources of funds and collaborations through regional and international partnerships, such as the World Health Organisation, European Union, Private Foundations, and donor agencies, to sustain the funding of life-saving initiatives threatened by the new US Policy in Nigeria’s health sector.

It also mandated the Ministry of Health, communication, and National Orientation to increase public awareness of the threats faced by the health sector and the need for frugality, prudence and efficient utilisation of resources by all ministries, departments, and agencies affected.