Reps probe $4.6bn global fund, USAID grants for HIV, TB, others

By Gift ChapiOdekina

The House of Representatives has mandated its Committee connected HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria Control to analyse the utilisation of implicit $4.6 cardinal received by Nigeria from the Global Fund and the United States Agency for International Development, USAID, betwixt 2021 and 2025 for the combat against HIV, tuberculosis, TB, and malaria.

The solution followed the adoption of a question of urgent nationalist value sponsored by Philip Agbese, who expressed interest implicit Nigeria’s persistent mediocre wellness outcomes, contempt monolithic overseas assistance targeted astatine eradicating these diseases.

Agbese, successful his motion, noted that Nigeria received an estimated $1.8 cardinal from the Global Fund betwixt 2021 and 2025 and implicit $2.8 cardinal from USAID betwixt 2022 and 2024 to combat HIV, malaria, polio, and TB.

Additionally, helium said the state benefited from $6 cardinal successful wellness enactment done the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, PEPFAR, to fortify assemblage and wellness systems.

Despite these important inflows, Agbese lamented that Nigeria continued to fertile among the countries with the highest illness burdens globally.

He cited information showing that successful 2023 alone, the state recorded 51,000 AIDS-related deaths, including 15,000 among children aged 0-14 years, portion Nigeria besides ranks archetypal successful Africa and sixth globally successful tuberculosis burden. The federation likewise accounts for 26.6% of planetary malaria cases and 31% of planetary malaria deaths.

He warned that astatine the existent pace, Nigeria risked failing to conscionable the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal, SDG, people of eradicating HIV, TB, and malaria by 2030.

“The House is disquieted that if thing drastic is not done to reassess and reevaluate the utilisation and implementation of these grants with the 8th replenishment successful view, Nigeria whitethorn proceed to suffer its colonisation to these diseases.

“While the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare manages the USAID grants, the Country Coordinating Mechanism Nigeria, CCM, oversees the Global Fund grants – but determination has been nary coordinated oregon robust oversight by the National Assembly connected however these funds are utilized.

“Under Sections 88 and 89 of the 1999 Constitution (as amended), the legislature has the authorization to summon agencies, petition documents, and behaviour investigations into matters of nationalist interest,” Agbese said.

Adopting the motion, the House resolved to mandate the Committee connected HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Control to transportation retired a broad probe into the grants’ utilisation and study backmost wrong 4 weeks.

The House besides directed the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare to supply details of the implementation plans and National Assembly-approved expenditures for the funds received during the play nether review.

The station Reps probe $4.6bn planetary fund, USAID grants for HIV, TB, others appeared archetypal connected Vanguard News.