Some civil society organisations in Nigeria have raised alarm over what they call the country’s heavy dependence on external aid to fight HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria as no longer sustainable.
At a workshop in Abuja, key players called for coordinated efforts to mobilise domestic resources and take ownership of health financing as foreign donors continue to scale back funding for health interventions.
This gathering of civil society actors, health officials and programme leads, organized by Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, is aimed at developing a unified roadmap for mobilising funds locally to sustain the fight against HIV, TB, and malaria.
Board Chair of Stop TB Partnership Nigeria, Queen Ogbuji-Ladipo, emphasized the urgent need for civil society groups to work collectively and lead the charge in canvassing for local funding, warning that inconsistent and dwindling foreign support cannot sustain the fight against infectious diseases in Nigeria.
Other speakers suggested a shift from dependency to ownership, emphasising that health is a national responsibility that cannot be outsourced.
The three-day workshop, expected to produce a harmonised roadmap for civil society led domestic resource mobilisation in line with national health priorities is also targeted to build the capacity of CSO networks and strengthen collaboration for sustainable health outcomes.
Editor : Ena Agbanoma
