Launch of Nigeria's GHI Strategy ; Kemy Monahan, GHI Deputy Executive Director

In mid October, I visited Abuja, Nigeria to support the launch of Nigeria’s GHI Strategy and visit U.S.- supported medical facilities. For many Nigerians, life itself is tough. Over 3.14 million are living with HIV/AIDS; in the northwest of the country alone, one in five kids dies a preventable death before the age of 5.

Against this daunting backdrop our embassy health team has put together one of our very best GHI strategies that. US Ambassador Terence McCulley and his excellent inter-agency team, including State/PEPFAR, USAID, CDC, and DoD, work seamlessly together, never losing focus on the literally thousands of lives they change every day. Their works is truly heroic. I was able to see first hand the inspirational work of doctors and nurses during visits to the Maitama and Asokoro District Hospitals. In Asokoro, I met a tall, strong healthy young man who told me he entered the U.S. - supplied treatment clinic at 100 pounds, on the verge of death. What a turnaround! USG funding in the Maitama hospital, which serves 11,000 patients per month, supports HIV counseling and treatment, preventative, laboratory, and integrated HIV and tuberculosis services. The US team is focused on lifesaving results on the ground. We kept our visit short to be sure that staff would not be distracted from treating the very last child waiting in the crowded hallway. It seems there is never a last one; they just keep coming. The severe shortage of health services in Nigeria makes our work with the Government of Nigeria on global health essential, and their work to invest in building up the capacity of their own health system imperative.

We launched the new GHI Nigeria strategy in the company of ministry officials, representatives of donors, NGOs, international organizations and health advocates. Since the strategy itself notes that global health in Nigeria is an "intricate mosaic of collaboration," it was only appropriate to launch it in a celebration with all partners.

The Nigeria GHI Country Strategy focuses on multi-stakeholder and government collaboration, creating an AIDS-free generation and reducing maternal and child deaths. The strategy supports the Government’s national strategy and promotes Nigerian health priorities, while coordinating US-supported activities with other donors, nongovernmental and international organizations, and health advocates working in Nigeria. Stakeholders at the Abuja launch embraced GHI's focus on saving mothers and children and creating an AIDS-free generation and the strategy's outline of how to move toward those goals in Nigeria. We talked about the need for the government of Nigeria to be our true partner in funding efforts to fight HIV, malaria and other health threats.

There may be a window of hope and change for primary health care funding in Nigeria. With new reform-minded ministers in place and new legislation that pledges to support primary health care and improve the health of the poorest women and children, this could be a turning point for national funding and sustainability of health systems and services in Nigeria. Although the need for HIV treatment in Nigeria is currently met almost exclusively by the U.S. and the Global Fund, the Nigerian government has agreed to take ownership of 50% of HIV/AIDS spending by 2015. It is imperative for the Government of Nigeria to deliver on these life giving pledges for the people of Nigeria. We, and other donors and partners at the GHI strategy launch, stand ready to support Nigeria and our mutual goals of mobilizing domestic and international resources, creating an AIDS-free generation and saving mothers and children.