We committed $600m to health in Nigeria in 2023, says U.S. Govt.

The United States Government has disclosed that it has committed $20 billion to various health programs in Africa.

The U.S. government further revealed that in 2023 alone, it invested over $600 million in health assistance for Nigeria.

According to a statement from the U.S. Embassy in Nigeria, US partnerships on health in Nigeria have saved millions of lives, strengthened health systems, and better prepared Nigeria and the region for present and future health security threats.

“The following are the facts about the U.S. government partnership with Nigeria for health now and in the future: Preventing Malaria: Malaria threatens more than half the world’s population and claims the life of a child every minute, and the United States, together with our global partners, has helped save more than 11.7 million lives and prevented two billion malaria infections globally.

“Malaria is a leading cause of death in Nigeria, but malaria deaths in Nigeria have fallen by 55 percent since 2000.

“President’s Malaria Initiative (PMI) has taken steps to prevent illness and death by providing: nearly 83 million insecticide-treated bed nets; 22 million malaria preventive treatments in pregnancy; 164 million fast-acting malaria medicines; insecticides to spray 121,000 homes; and over 102 million rapid diagnostic tests for malaria.

“Ending HIV: About 39 million people live with HIV globally, including an estimated 2 million in Nigeria. The United States and Nigeria are focused on ending HIV as a public health threat by 2030.

“The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has expanded HIV treatment and reduced HIV transmissions, saving more than 25 million lives in more than 50 partner countries over the past two decades and giving over 1.6 million Nigerians access to antiretroviral therapy,” the statement read.

Persecondnews reports that in Nigeria, PEPFAR has invested over $8.3 billion in the national HIV response.

“In 2023, PEPFAR resources supported: over 12 million people with HIV counselling and testing services; more than two million pregnant women with HIV counselling and testing services to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV; More than 1.8 million people living with HIV receive TB/HIV services; more than 1.5 million orphans and vulnerable children receive care and support services.

“Delivering vaccines: During the COVID-19 pandemic, the United States helped Nigeria vaccinate 70 percent of its eligible populations. The U.S. government supports Nigeria to control, eliminate, and eradicate other vaccine-preventable diseases as well.

“Through technical expertise and programmatic support, the United States collaborates with international and local partners to strengthen immunization systems and expand routine vaccine delivery.

“In the course of these efforts, the U.S. government has: donated 44 million doses of the COVID vaccine; supported the vaccination of 2,145,063 children for polio in security-compromised areas, helping Nigeria become certified free of wild poliovirus in 2020; and supported the introduction of four new vaccines for children, including rotavirus, IPV2, measles, and HPV.

“Advancing Global Health Security: The COVID-19 pandemic, as well as Ebola, mpox, and other outbreaks in the country and region, has shown the devastating impacts of infectious disease on health, economies, and societies.

“Together, the United States and Nigeria are working to strengthen health security capacities,” the statement said.