Foreign aid cuts put HIV, TB, malaria gains at risk, Ex-minister warns

Nigeria's former Minister of Health, Prof. Isaac Adewole, has issued a stark warning: recent reductions in foreign development assistance could jeopardize decades of progress in combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria, and other public health crises. Adewole, who is also Nigeria’s Ambassador-designate to Canada, stressed that unless developing countries like Nigeria significantly boost their domestic healthcare funding, these hard-won gains are at risk.

Speaking at the 25th anniversary of APIN Public Health Initiatives, Adewole reflected on the remarkable global strides made in reducing child mortality, maternal deaths, and infectious diseases over the past three decades. He cautioned that these achievements could be undone if nations fail to strengthen their health systems and financing mechanisms. Improvements in immunization, management of common childhood illnesses, nutrition, and maternal healthcare have been credited with a significant fall in under-five mortality between 1990 and 2021.

Adewole highlighted major successes against HIV/AIDS through accessible antiretroviral therapy and community-based interventions, as well as progress in tuberculosis control via improved diagnostics and integrated services. Malaria control efforts, including widespread distribution of insecticide-treated nets and the introduction of vaccines, have also demonstrably reduced disease burdens. He noted Nigeria's success in vaccinating nearly 17 million girls against cervical cancer.

However, Adewole pointed to emerging threats such as climate change, pandemics, antimicrobial resistance, economic instability, and dwindling donor support as significant risks. "Pandemics, climate change, food insecurity, conflict, economic shocks, misinformation and declining development assistance are major sources of uncertainty that must be factored into our health programmes," he stated, emphasizing the need for robust and adaptable health strategies in the face of these global challenges.

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Pandemics, climate change, food insecurity, conflict, economic shocks, misinformation and declining development assistance are major sources of uncertainty that must be factored into our health programmes.