From Ndubuisi Orji, Abuja
The House of Representatives has said that the country is at a turning point in the fight against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, malaria and other infectious diseases.
The chairman, House Committee on Infectious Diseases, Amobi Ogah, stated this at the resumed investigative hearing on the $1.8 and $2.8 billion grant received by Nigeria From Global Fund and USAID from 2021-2025 to support the fight against HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria among others.
Ogah, while noting that the target of eliminating all public health threats by 2030 may no longer be feasible, stated that it is imperative for the country to maximize all resources at its disposal.
He said “I believe we are at a decisive turning point in the response against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other Infectious diseases in our Country, and it is apparent that the target of eliminating all Public Health threats by the year 2030 may no longer be feasible. However, we must not fold our hands, rather we must roll up our sleeves because much needs to be done to maximize and efficiently utilize the resources at our disposal.
“I therefore call for continued collaboration among key stakeholders and the Committee on Infectious Diseases to ensure we remove duplication by allocating resources to areas that will provide greater value for Nigerians. To this end, there is need to streamline what state actors and non state actors are doing within the sector, so that resources can be efficiently allocated.
“The Committee will also continue to provide the Legislative support to relevant stakeholders to ensure full implementation of the response against HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other infectious diseases in our Country.”
The lawmaker explained that the probe is not a witch hunt, but an effort an effort to put issues bordering on public health threats, such as HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria at the fore.
“It is also to restore confidence in our International Donor Partners to our adherence to transparency and accountability, and to ensure that whatever grant we receive must be judiciously expended.
“We must therefore ensure that leaders, both at government and non-governmental levels do the right thing to ensure we get it right with the implementation of programs to fight HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Malaria and other infectious diseases in our country,” he stated.
