The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Ali Pate, has assured Nigerians that the country is fully capable of managing its citizens’ healthcare needs, despite the exit of the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
In a recent televised interview, Pate addressed the concerns surrounding USAID’s closure, which followed a directive from former U.S. President Donald Trump. The move left many countries, particularly in Africa, uncertain about the future of health-related aid from the agency.
“We are not complaining. We are full of appreciation to the U.S. government for their contributions,” Pate said, acknowledging the significant support the U.S. had provided, particularly in helping over 1.3 million Nigerians access antiretroviral therapies, tuberculosis, malaria treatments, and maternal and child health services.
While recognizing the impact of the U.S. policy change, Pate emphasized that Nigeria is committed to taking responsibility for the health of its population. “The change in U.S. government policy is their determination. We can’t complain. Our focus now is on ensuring that we are primarily responsible for the health of our citizens,” he stated.
The minister further clarified that the Nigerian government is not reliant on external aid and is working towards becoming self-sufficient in healthcare funding. “We may be a poor country, but we are a capable country. We are determined to own up to that responsibility,” Pate said. “If others step in and support us, we appreciate it, but we are not begging for it. We will live within what we have.”
Pate also outlined Nigeria’s long-term approach to healthcare, which has been centered on increasing national ownership and domestic funding for health services. He explained that even before the recent policy shift by the U.S., Nigeria’s leadership had been focused on strengthening the country’s healthcare infrastructure.
“At the end of the day, our approach has been towards increasing national ownership and improving our healthcare value chain. We are strengthening our resilience through surveillance and laboratory systems to tackle infectious diseases,” he added.
Pate concluded by reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that all Nigerians receive the care they need, regardless of external factors, stressing that the responsibility for healthcare lies squarely with Nigeria’s leaders.
