Lagos: The Federal Government says it is mobilising domestic resources to meet the basic health needs of Nigerians following the recent U.S. funding and other donor funding cuts. The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, stated this in an interview with journalists, on Thursday in Gombe.
According to News Agency of Nigeria, Pate mentioned that President Bola Tinubu’s administration is committed to the health and wellbeing of Nigerians, adopting proactive steps to bridge gaps in healthcare service delivery. He emphasized the federal government’s commitment to increasing resources in the health sector, aligning with the administration’s agenda to prioritize the health of Nigerians.
Pate highlighted the responsibility of the administration and all state governors in ensuring the health and wellbeing of citizens. While expressing gratitude for the U.S. government’s support over the past two decades, he noted that the federal government is actively mobilising resources to continue providing healthcare services amidst funding cuts.
“We are mobilising domestic resources from our own budget and the federal government has announced additional resources for health,” Pate stated. “President Tinubu will ensure that we have the resources to maintain the treatment, drugs, and other services so that we can over time exit from dependency on external assistance.”
Pate also stressed the importance of building national systems and institutions as Nigeria grows, and the need to allocate domestic resources to enhance healthcare service delivery. Despite the funding challenges, he expressed optimism about strengthening partnerships with the U.S. government and other international partners to ensure Nigerians have access to essential healthcare services.
He called on state governments to emulate the federal government’s prioritization of the health sector by dedicating necessary resources to address citizens’ health needs. Pate reassured that the government is committed to providing quality healthcare services, emphasizing the responsibility to fulfill this obligation.
The News Agency of Nigeria reports that Pate is in Gombe to meet with Governor Inuwa Yahaya, who also serves as the Chairman of Northern States Governors’ Forum. The meeting aims to strategize ways of eradicating polio in Nigeria, particularly in the northern regions of the country.