The Federal Government has called for increased domestic financing of the health sector to sustain progress in HIV treatment and reduce reliance on foreign donors. The appeal came during the 25th anniversary celebration of APIN Public Health Initiatives in Abuja. Speaking on behalf of the Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Professor Muhammad Ali Pate, the Director-General of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Dr. Temitope Ilori, highlighted that APIN has supported the government in delivering life-saving HIV treatment to nearly 20 per cent of Nigerians living with the virus across 30 states.
Pate noted that 25 years ago, Nigeria faced a severe HIV epidemic, widespread stigma, and a fragile healthcare system, but partnerships with local organisations have since expanded access to care. "Twenty-five years ago, there was resistance to offering HIV services at the primary healthcare level. Today, we are utilising more than 3,000 Primary Health Centres (PHCs) across Nigeria to provide safe and effective services," he said. He warned against complacency, citing ongoing challenges such as drug-resistant tuberculosis, non-communicable diseases among people living with HIV, and persistent infections in hard-to-reach communities.
The minister stressed the need for sustainable domestic financing and stronger collaboration with academia, civil society organisations, and other stakeholders to strengthen the health system. Former President Goodluck Jonathan, represented by Mrs Ann Iyonu, Executive Director of the Goodluck Jonathan Foundation, commended APIN's contributions over the past 25 years. Jonathan described public health as a critical pillar of national stability and economic development. He urged APIN and other non-governmental organisations to continue supporting government efforts, stating, "Nigeria, like many developing nations, is confronting severe economic pressures, rising healthcare costs, donor funding uncertainties and increasing demands on its health system. We cannot afford to lose the health gains we have made over the years."
Professor Muhammad Ali Pate commended local health partnerships while calling for reduced donor dependence, yet his own statement relies on foreign-funded progress at 3,000 PHCs. APIN's support for nearly 20 per cent of HIV patients across 30 states was built with international backing, not domestic investment. The push for self-reliance ignores that Nigeria's gains were achieved through the very external funding now framed as unsustainable. Without naming a single new source of local revenue, the call risks being rhetorical.
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