The federal government has debunked reports credited to the World Health Organisation (WHO), which revealed that Nigeria, among seven other countries, is running out of essential HIV medications.

Meanwhile, the government has approved the disbursement of N2 billion to the states, local governments, and more than 8,000 primary healthcare centres through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund (BHCPF) to support the expansion of primary health care services and the vulnerable fund to ensure women and children get access to quality health care.

The disbursement is also expected to help vulnerable Nigerians access emergency medical treatment and ambulance services.

Speaking with journalists after the meeting of the Ministerial Oversight Committee for the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund yesterday in Abuja, Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Ali Pate, disclosed that Nigeria has commodities in warehouses, adding that the government is moving towards direct as well as emergency procurement of commodities using the resources at its disposal.

Pate noted that President Bola Ahmed Tinubu has provided resources to enable the country to bridge the gap created as a result of the US funding cut.

He said, “We have seen reports from external agencies in Geneva claiming that there are imminent stockouts. The fact is that our analysis shows there is no imminent stockout. We’re trying to live within our means, and it is not appropriate for Geneva-based organizations, which are unfamiliar with our context and the efforts our government is making, to make such reports. At this point in time, there are commodities in warehouses, and even the U.S. government has issued waivers, so we know that treatment will continue. However, we must act swiftly to procure medications with our own resources. We need to source from countries similar to ours and rely on our own funding rather than large amounts of external aid.

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“The gap is there, but we are stepping up because we have the responsibility to take care of the health of Nigerians. They should be assured that the President is committed, and we are working with him, fully determined to ensure that those who require treatment, including for tuberculosis, malaria, and antiretroviral therapy, receive it. It’s not easy, but we will do our very best, working alongside civil society organizations and other stakeholders, to contribute positively.”

The minister noted that the government, through the Basic Healthcare Provision Fund, is supporting the expansion of primary healthcare services and the vulnerable group fund to ensure women and children get access to quality healthcare, emergency medical treatment, and ambulance services. Additionally, through the NCDC, the government is controlling disease outbreaks prevalent in the country.

Pate observed that approval has also been given to support the NCDC further in ensuring health security by preventing, protecting against, and responding to outbreaks.

He said, “The second approval was for the guideline for the BHCPF, which is provided for by law. While we await legal opinion from the Attorney General of the Federation, the MOC has agreed on the thrust of the changes made to the guidelines. These are significant steps forward, introducing equity and increasing resources allocated to primary health care centres.

“The reality is that BHCPF facilities across Nigeria are now functioning at much higher and better levels compared to non-BHCPF facilities. The reforms we have implemented over the past 18 months are working, and we appreciate the President’s leadership in ensuring that we receive the necessary resources to continue this progress. Regarding the NCDC gateway at the sub-national level, states faced issues opening their accounts and obtaining signatories.

“But as you have heard, the issue lies with the Accountant General of the Federation, and we are confident that the new Accountant General will remove those bottlenecks so that states can access their funds. As you know, these funds are federal government resources, but they are channelled through state TSA accounts, which must be opened by the Accountant General. We are now working to ensure this process is expedited, but the resources are available.”