Economy
By Tennyson Sampson
PETER Sands, Executive Director of Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria has said that Nigeria has the world’s highest burden of malaria.
In his goodwill message at the unveiling of the Nigerian Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative and the signing of the Sector Wide Approach Compact, Sands, a former chief executive of Standard Chartered Bank, commended the progress achieved by the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
“Just over two months, I was here with Ambassador Nkengasong of PEPFAR and David Walton, PMI coordinator to meet the minister – then three weeks into the job. It is remarkable how much progress has been made.
“This milestone reminds me of an earlier one. In 2001, here in Abuja, the former President Olusegun Obasanjo and the late Koffi Annan came up with the idea of the Global Fund.
“Since then, the Global Fund partnership has achieved tremendous results. By the end of 2022, programmes supported by this unique partnership have saved 59 million lives and have cut worldwide deaths from AIDS, Tuberculosis (TB) and Malaria by 55%,“ he said.
He applauded President Bola Tinubu and the Federal Government for the exemplary leadership in the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria and in strengthening health systems and accelerating progress towards UHC.
According to him, this is the way to unleash the extraordinary human capital of this incredible country, freeing even the poorest communities from the burden of disease, unlocking their economic potential.
“As you all know well there is more to be done. Most strikingly, Nigeria has the highest burden of malaria in the world, accounting for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of deaths. The Global Fund, working with PMI and the Government of Nigeria, is the largest provider of support to the national malaria response. “Significant progress has been made: overall malaria prevalence has been reduced from 42% in 2010 to 22% in 2021. Yet still some 4,000 Nigerians die of malaria every week, 94% children under 5 years old. Ending this dreadful death toll, freeing the poorest Nigerians from repeated bouts of malaria, would be a legacy to be proud of. And the evidence shows, would immediately translate into better educational attainment and improved productivity in even the most disadvantaged communities.
“On HIV, Nigeria ranks third in the world after South Africa and India, with close to 2 million people living with HIV. Despite the disruptions from Covid19, Nigeria has made truly impressive progress in increasing antiretroviral coverage in recent years, increasing from an estimated 60% in 2019 to 90% in 2022. Reaching the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets is crucial to controlling the HIV/AIDS, and we cannot let up. As other countries have learned to their cost, this formidable disease punishes any complacency.
“On TB, Nigeria ranks first in Africa and sixth in the world. Your Excellency, Nigeria should be proud of the acceleration of progress in fighting TB. TB notifications have more than doubled from 107,000 in 2018 to 286,00 in 2022, and are projected to exceed 300,000 in 2023. And the number of drug-resistant – the nastiest form of – TB cases notified increased from 3,000 in 2021 to 4,000 in 2022.
“Not everything has done so well. For example, on HIV, there is a need for decisive action to improve results on Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission and the provision of pediatric antiretroviral treatment. I know these are priorities for the Coordinating Minister.
“Ending these three diseases will save millions of lives and free up capacity in the health system. When I visited Kano in September with the Coordinating Minister, I was struck by the fact that across the 5 clinics and hospitals we visited, 50 to 80% of the patients were ill by malaria. Just imagine what else these health facilities could be doing for people if they weren’t so overwhelmed by this one disease,” he said.
He disclosed that over the years the Global Fund has invested over $4.8bn in support of Nigeria’s efforts to fight HIV, TB and malaria, and to build a stronger health system.
“We recognise that these three diseases, while hugely important as the deadliest infectious diseases, are only some of the many health challenges confronting Nigeria.
“This is why I congratulate the Coordinating Minister on the Blueprint for the Sector Wide Approach and the corresponding Compact which is being signed today. The Global Fund recognizes the importance of these vital health reforms, and the importance of close collaboration between the Federal Government and the States, and closer coordination between development partners and the Government of Nigeria.
“This is also why, in addition to the $4.8bn, we have committed more than USD 400m through our Covid-19 Response Mechanism, first to support Nigeria’s emergency Covid response and now to invest in health system strengthening and pandemic preparedness.
“This includes:
Installing 62 oxygen plants across the country – a literal lifesaver for mothers with birth complications, newborns, and anyone suffering acute trauma,
o Setting up of a Genomic sequencing laboratory, vital for tracking new threats
o Refurbishing 22 warehouses to ensure medicines reach those who need them
o Supporting the Coordinating Minister’s initiative to revamp the model for Community Health Care workers;
“For the first time, we will also invest directly in health insurance with an initial $10m to support schemes in 5 States. We welcome your intention to include HIV, and especially Prevention of Mother to Child Transmission, and TB services into the BHCPF benefits packages.
“Your Excellency, I must commend you and your Coordinating Minister for your vision and leadership. The Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative, the Sector Wide Approach and the Compact represent a critical milestone in the journey toward UHC and better health for all Nigerians.
“Of course there will be challenges. Getting to UHC will take more money, more domestic resources, and particularly for primary health care. Turning this vision into reality will require a relentless focus on superb execution. Maximizing impact will entail a sharp and continuous focus on outcomes. Yet I am confident that under your leadership, and with the drive and determination of the Coordinating Minister, you will succeed.
“For our part, I can assure you that the Global Fund is committed to being your partner on this journey. We will continue to work closely with the Coordinating Minister and his team to ensure our efforts are seamlessly aligned with the Sector Wide Approach and to maximize results, so that together we deliver for the people of Nigeria,” he added.
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December 12, 2023 @ 21:30 GMT|
Tags: PETER Sands President Bola Tinubu Professor Muhammad Ali Pate.
