The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has assured Nigerians that the country is fully capable of funding its healthcare system despite the withdrawal of the US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Thank you for reading this post, don't forget to subscribe!His statement follows former US President Donald Trump’s order to shut down USAID, a move that left many African nations uncertain about the future of critical health programs. However, Pate expressed confidence in Nigeria’s ability to sustain its healthcare system without relying on external aid.
“We are not complaining. We are full of appreciation to the US government for their contributions,” Pate said during an interview on Channels Television’s Hard Copy on Friday.
“The American people have contributed to taking care of more than 1.3 million Nigerians on antiretroviral therapies, tuberculosis, malaria, and maternal and child health conditions.”
Nigeria’s Commitment to Self-Sufficiency
The minister emphasized that healthcare remains the responsibility of the Nigerian government and that the country is already moving towards reducing dependence on foreign aid.
“We may be a poor country, but we are a capable country, and we are determined to own up to that responsibility. If others step in and support us, we appreciate it, but we are not begging for it,” Pate affirmed.
He added that Nigeria has been increasing domestic resources, strengthening its healthcare value chain, and building laboratory surveillance systems to manage infectious diseases more effectively.
“Our approach, long before the change in US policy, has been towards increasing national ownership, improving domestic healthcare funding, and strengthening resilience.”
Despite the USAID exit, Pate reassured Nigerians that the federal government remains committed to providing quality healthcare and ensuring that those in need continue to receive the necessary medical attention.
