Senate President Bukola Saraki expressed worry over the withdrawal of international funding to combat the spread of HIV/AIDS
In a series of tweets via his twitter account, Saraki said that alternative solutions should be sourced to replace international funding:
“As we mark World Health Day 2017, information at our disposal reveals that major funding for HIV/AIDS in Nigeria will be withdrawn.
“The treatment of the over 3.4 million Nigerians living with HIV/AIDS is at stake if global funding is suspended.
“Government at all levels must now work with international partners to identify alternative sources of funding for HIV/AIDS.
“Without careful planning now, the negative impact of the funding decrease in HIV/AIDS programming is not far off.
“The fire brigade approach will not work on this HIV/AIDS funding issue. We must act now.
“With healthcare, foresight, preparation and strategies must be put in place to mitigate against the threat to human life.
“With the various challenges facing Nigeria’s health infrastructure, now is not the time to retreat on HIV/AIDS.
“The loss of international funding for HIV/AIDS will create immediate stress on an already overburdened system.
“As a medical doctor, I know that we can overcome all threats to our nation’s healthcare system. But we must act now.
In 2016, the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) informed Saraki that international donor agencies were withdrawing funding for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria.
There are reports that patients now pay between N5,000 and N50,000 drugs and medical consultancy for the treatment of HIV/AIDS in health centres were treatment used to be free.