By Adedapo Adesanya
The federal government has pledged to increase domestic health financing to improve health condition of all Nigerians as part of President Bola Tinubu’s administration’s targets.
The Vice President, Mr Kashim Shettima, on Tuesday made the pledge when a delegations from the Global Health Partners, the Global Fund, US President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI), and others, paid him a courtesy visit at the Presidential Villa, Abuja.
The US President’s Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) was also part of the delegations.
Mr Shettima emphasised that enhancing domestic health financing and improved health outcomes of Nigerians were topmost on the agenda of the Tinubu administration in the health sector.
He also said that Mr Tinubu’s administration was determined to reposition Nigeria’s healthcare system for the benefits of all Nigerians.
“The President’s political support to improved health outcomes for all Nigerians; increased domestic financing for health; and promoting health industrialisation were topmost on the agenda.
“These are three major commitments I am making on behalf of my boss and be rest assured that our word is our bond.
“I want to assure you that we are determined to catapult the nation to a higher pedestal. We are committed to changing the narrative of inclusive growth, of a Nigeria where every black man will be proud of.”
Mr Shettima said that President Tinubu was a man of vision, who has the courage to follow through whatever he believes in.
“From the appointment of the Minister of Health, there is a clear testimony to the drive, the political commitment of the President and the current leadership towards repositioning the Nigerian nation.
“The Minister of Health is a man of impeccable credentials. He is a celebrated public health practitioner with the experience, exposure and commitment to drive the change we seek in the health sector.”
He urged the Global Health Partners and other stakeholders in the health sector to support the new leadership in the Health Ministry to actualise the President’s vision for all Nigerians.
Dignitaries at the meeting were the Director-General, National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr Gambo Aliyu; US Consul General in Lagos, Will Stevens, and the WHO Country Representative, Dr Walter Kazadi Mulombo, among others.
Also in attendance was the Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Dr Ali Pate, who added that the visit of the global health partners was to take stock on the progress made so far.
He also said that the visit was to reassure the Tinubu administration of their commitment to the efforts to combat HIV AIDS, Malaria and Tuberculosis, among others.
Also, the US Global AIDS Coordinator, Mr John Nkengasong, said the visit coincided with the commemoration of US Government’s 20 years of support to Nigeria’s fight against HIV AIDS through the PEPFAR initiative.
He added that the visit provided opportunity for the partners to appreciate the vision and direction of the Tinubu administration for the health sector.
Mr Nkengasong, who commended the administration, noted that the Health Minister’s clarity of vision and commitment to building an inclusive health system for the country, would help the partners align their goals and targets in the various interventions.
In separate remarks, Mr Peter Sands of the Global Fund and David Walton of the President’s Malaria Initiative, also commended the Federal Government for its efforts towards combating Malaria, HIV AIDS and Tuberculosis.
They urged all stakeholders to sustain the momentum, especially in the bid to achieve the 2030 target of eradicating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.
All the partners at the meeting pledged their support and commitment to work with the Tinubu administration to deliver on its mandate and vision for the health sector.
Aduragbemi Omiyale