The Nigerian government has approved an allocation of N4.5 billion for the procurement of HIV treatment packs to support Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS.
The Federal Executive Council, FEC, gave the approval on Monday following its weekly meeting.
The government said it will facilitate the procurement of 150,000 treatment packs over four months.
The Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, speaking on the approval after the FEC meeting, said it underscores Nigeria’s commitment to ensuring continuous access to life-saving treatment for individuals affected by the virus.
The minister also announced that FEC has set up a committee with members drawn from the ministries of finance, budget, defence, and environment, as well as the Nigeria Governors’ Forum, NGF, to develop a sustainability plan.
“This allocation is critical for ensuring that those living with HIV continue to receive necessary treatments without interruption.
“This is about ensuring that no Nigerian loses access to treatment during this period of adjustment,” he said.
Speaking on the recent US policy changes, Pate said that while Nigeria appreciates the contributions of the American government over the last 20 years, it is now focused on transforming its health sector using national systems and domestic financing.
Newspot reports that the latest development comes after the United States government granted an emergency humanitarian waiver, reversing a previous funding pause on HIV treatment in developing countries.
