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… As NEPWHAN urges domestication of anti-stigma, discrimination law
From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi
Following the suspension of funding of Africa’s health systems by the US government, a Non Governmental Organization (NGO) AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and other relevant Civil Society Organisations (CSOs), have called for local financing for HIV and Tuberculosis (TB).
This is just as the Network of People Living With HIV/AIDS In Nigeria, (NEPWHAN), has harped on the need for domestication of the anti-stigma, discrimination law.
They made this call during the
CSO Financing Dialogue meeting held in Abuja on Tuesday.
Recall that the Abuja Declaration of 2001 was a commitment by African Union member states to increase their annual health budgets to at least 15% of their national budget to combat HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
The declaration, adopted in Abuja, Nigeria, also urged developed countries to meet their target of providing 0.7% of their Gross National Product (GNP) as Official Development Assistance (ODA) to developing nations.
While African countries pledged this increase, progress toward the 15% target has been slow, with only a few countries consistently meeting it.
With the recent pullback by global donors, the participants said the parliament needs to revisit how the Abuja declaration might come into effect.
Speaking at the event, the National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Abdul Kadir Ibrahim said it is pertinent for stakeholders to see how the nation can mobilize local resources for AIDS, TB and Malaria and for states across the country to revisit the HIV anti stigma and discrimination to be domesticated by state House of Assemblies.
Kadir said “the US government policy shift, has really given us the kind of strong signal that we need to look inward and also see how we could identify internal resources to accommodate and finance our health progress, most especially HIV that has to do with our community members.
“Currently, about 80 to 85 percent of HIV funding is being supported through foreign aid, most especially with a large chunk from the US government and also about 35 percent from the Global Fund and other funding sources. In all these, there is only less than 15 percent from the government of Nigeria.“
He also said there is need to capture people in the National Health Insurance Scheme and also ensure sustainability for progress.
“It is also expedient to know that someone is paying for the free drugs that comes to us. And these are tax payers’ money from those countries.
“So, we need to really look inward and provide solutions for these challenges. HIV is still much more with us and there are still gaps to fill in, so as to give us a headway to ending it by the year 2030.
Also speaking, Chairman House Committee on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria, Godwin Ogah, said the stakeholders dialogue will advance conversations that will lead to actionable strategies and solutions towards the mobilization of domestic financing for HIV and TB response in Nigeria and for the domestication of the HIV anti stigma law in the country.
“Nigeria needs an estimated 8 billion US dollars annually to sustain the response against HIV/AIDS. But in the face of recent changes in the global funding landscape, occasioned by the suspension of funding for Africa health systems by the US government, further gaps in funding will impact negatively on the country’s fight against HIV/AIDS and TB.
“It is my opinion that the suspension of funding of Africa’s health systems by the US government is a blessing in disguise because I believe that the Nigerian government must take the lead in funding for the response to public health threats such as HIV, Tuberculosis and Malaria and not rely solely on foreign interventions.
“Since the withdrawal of funding, Nigerians both in public and private space have begun conversations on how to rejig our
financing architecture. So far, many brilliant and innovative solutions on how to mobilize domestic funding for the response against HIV and TB in Nigeria has been rolled out. But there is a need to streamline some of these solutions and if need be, provide a legislative framework for their implementation.”
On his part, the UN AID representative, Dr. Muphy Akpu said challenges of HIV affects every part of human lives and the government need to take deliberate actions to address these challenges bedeviling the country.
He also harped on local production of drugs to solve the HIV challenges in the country.
Also speaking the event, AHF Country Programe Director, Dr Echey Ijezie, said the engagements is necessary for participants to recommend actionable points in addressing current challenges.
He said AHF will continue to provide support for partners to contribute effectively in addressing HIV challenges.
