The Federal Government says it has committed 346 million dollars in co-financing in 2026 to support HIV, tuberculosis and malaria programmes.

The Coordinating Minister of Health and Social Welfare, Prof. Muhammad Pate, disclosed this at the national launch of Lenacapavir, a long-acting injectable for HIV prevention.

The launch was organised by the National AIDS, Viral Hepatitis and Sexually Transmitted Infections Control Programme (NASCP) on Tuesday in Abuja.

He said the funding, approved by President Bola Tinubu, would be captured in the 2026 national budget to strengthen critical health interventions.

“In the context of this major bilateral funder, the co-financing for 2026 is almost 346 million dollars additional.

“Mr President has already directed the Budget Office of the Federation to ensure that it is captured in the 2026 budget,” Pate said.

He explained that the funding would cover commodity costs, laboratory surveillance, reagents, primary healthcare expansion and financial protection for Nigerians.

“That means that some of the commodity costs, the laboratory surveillance costs, the reagents, primary health care, expansion of financial protection should be included,” he said.

Pate said the move reflected Nigeria’s shift toward stronger domestic financing amid declining global health funding and changing international priorities.

“The global space is changing right in front of our eyes. Financing has become limited globally and constrained in many countries, including Nigeria.

“While we have had tremendous success over the last 25 years thanks to global partnerships, the headwinds we are facing in terms of the changing global landscape force us to think differently,” he said.

Pate emphasised the need for innovation and efficiency, noting that new tools like Lenacapavir would help Nigeria consolidate gains made in HIV, tuberculosis and malaria control.

He said the government was adopting a sector-wide approach to improve efficiency, reduce fragmentation and maximise limited resources across all levels of the health system.

He added that Nigeria’s long-term goal was to reduce dependence on external funding and increase domestic ownership of health programmes.

“By 2030, Nigeria should be able to put its own domestic resources toward priority diseases instead of relying on external grants,” Pate said.

He said that more than 90 per cent of Nigeria’s health spending was already domestically financed, while external funding remained largely catalytic.

Pate also called on civil society and stakeholders to ensure that allocated funds were not only approved but released and effectively utilised.

The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Dr. Iziaq Salako, said Nigeria had made significant progress in HIV response indicators in recent years.

Salako said 93 per cent of people living with HIV now know their status, while 99 per cent of those diagnosed were on sustained antiretroviral therapy.

He added that 95 per cent of those on treatment had achieved viral suppression, while Prevention of Mother-To-Child Transmission coverage increased from 33 per cent in 2023 to nearly 70 per cent in 2025.

“As we progress toward epidemic control, the need to intensify prevention strategies remains critical,” Salako said.

He described Lenacapavir as a transformative innovation that offered high efficacy, convenience and discretion, particularly for individuals facing adherence challenges.

He, however, emphasised that behavioural prevention remained essential.

“Abstinence or avoiding risky behaviours, being mutually faithful and consistent condom use remained key for HIV prevention.

“If you know you are at risk for HIV, get tested.

“If your result shows you are positive, ensure immediate commencement of treatment in a health facility with Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy.

“If you are negative, but at high risk, commence use of oral preventive medications or injections for PrEP such as Cabotegravir and the newly launched Lenacapavir under appropriate medical guidance,” he said.

The Permanent Secretary, Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, Ms. Daju Kachollom, said the introduction of the drug marked a major advancement in HIV prevention in Nigeria.

“This long-acting injectable offers new hope, particularly for populations at higher risk,” Kachollom said.

She said the innovation aligned with Nigeria’s strategy to expand prevention options, reduce new infections and accelerate progress toward epidemic control.(NAN)