The United States Agency for International Development says the health indicators in Nigeria are some of the worst in Africa, saying that the country drags down the socioeconomic indicators for the entire African continent. Although Nigeria has the largest national economy in sub-Saharan Africa, USAID insists that the country must overcome significant development and governance challenges to fulfill its potential. According to the report obtained by PUNCH Healthwise on the official website of the Agency, Nigeria has one of the fastest growing populations globally with an estimated population of 214 million expected to reach 440 million people by 2050. “With an estimated population of 214 million, of which approximately 96 million people live on less than $1.90 per day, Nigeria is home to the world’s largest population living in extreme poverty. “Also, with 5.5 live births per woman and a population growth rate of 3.2 per cent annually, it is estimated to reach 440 million people by 2050. Also, with its rapidly growing population and development challenges, the country drags down the socioeconomic indicators for the entire African continent,” USAID lamented. According to the World Health Organization estimates, Nigeria had nearly 67 million cases in 2022, accounting for 27 per cent of the global malaria burden.
The WHO noted that in 2022, Nigeria accounted for 31 per cent of global deaths and 38 per cent of global deaths in children under the age of five, hence the need for action and intervention. Addressing Nigeria’s high mortality rates, PUNCH Healthwise reports that USAID’s support to the country increased access to quality family planning and reproductive health services, immunizations, polio eradication, malaria prevention, and maternal health services.
“We work with the Government of Nigeria to encourage greater budget expenditures for health. In partnership with the Centers for Disease Control and the U.S. Department of Defense Walter Reed Program, we assist Nigeria to build its capacity to manage HIV/AIDS and Tuberculosis cases by strengthening the primary health care system and focusing efforts on prevention, detection, and treatmen “USAID works in Nigeria to promote broad, inclusive economic growth, food and nutrition security, a healthier, better-educated population, accountable, inclusive, and responsive governance, gender equality, access to renewable energy, and stability, including humanitarian assistance, in areas devastated by extremist violence. These activities take place throughout the country,” the agency stated. USAID Deputy Mission Director, Sara Werth, lauded the Federal Ministry of Health for collaborating with the US government and working to foster robust and effective malaria services in the future. She noted that Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by parasites transmitted to humans through the bites of infected female Anopheles mosquitoes. “As we reflect on the challenges and triumphs in our collective battle against malaria, let us reaffirm our commitment to a future where no family in Nigeria fears the threat of this disease. “I urge the government of Nigeria to invest in making malaria programming more efficient and effective using data and other evidence to inform malaria implementation and drive faster results,” Werth added.
USAID the report highlighted the major support it has rendered to Nigeria including the partnership between the U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative and Nigeria to fight malaria since 2011, contributing $914 million to date and $73 million in 2023.
It further noted that USAID, through PMI funding and program, delivered 13.4 million bed nets, 6 million fast-acting medicines, and 11.8 million Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests to clinics and communities in Nigeria over the past year. The report read in part, “In 2023, more than 7,200 health workers were trained to strengthen their skills in malaria detection, treatment, and how to provide lifesaving care for their communities. “The country has the second largest number of people living with HIV globally and accounts for nine per cent of the global HIV burden. The U.S. Government, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, currently assists over 600, 000 Nigerians with life-saving HIV therapy, which is 90 per cent of the people living with HIV/AIDS in the country. “Activities focus on expanding program that prevent transmission to the most at-risk populations, while also stopping the high rate of mother-to-child transmission. More than one million children orphaned and made vulnerable by HIV receive care and support through these program. “We support quality tuberculosis treatment for adults and children by linking them to primary health care centers and resources, including laboratory test kits and anti-retroviral medications.”
The Agency also noted that in 2015, it supported the diagnosis and notification of nearly 40, 000 people infected with TB and is poised to double that rate by the end of 2017. It noted that in 2016, in collaboration with Nigeria’s National Tuberculosis Program, USAID rolled out a new drug regime for Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis that will significantly reduce treatment times. On maternal and child health, the USAID Reproductive Maternal and Child Health program, the reported revealed, reached over 60 million Nigerians with lifesaving services including training public health workers and improving access to quality medicines, vaccines, medical facilities, and reproductive health materials. “Our activities improve governance and leadership at all levels of the health sector and support the development of robust, equitable, and efficient health financing system,” it added. On the other hand, to own our health sector and ensure the security of drugs and disease management, a Consultant Public Health Physician at the University of Ilorin Teaching Hospital, Kwara State, Professor Tanimola Akande said the Nigerian government at all levels should increase spending and investment on the health sector. He said, “Health care financing through the government has, unfortunately, for so long been much below the benchmark set during the Abuja declaration of 15 per cent of the budget. “Though there is a marginal increase over 2023 in the 2024 budget about to be passed. Yet, this is still a far cry from meeting the financial gaps in the health sector. Governments at all levels in Nigeria will need to do more for the health sector. “Other options of financing health in Nigeria, like health insurance and public-private partnership, will have to be worked on to attempt bridging the gap.”
