As USAID cuts funding for Malaria, HIV, poor healthcare funding in 7 northern states comes to light

By solacebase.com On Feb 21, 2025

USAID ,funding, Malaria, HIV, healthcare , Nigeria, — As USAID cuts funding for Malaria, HIV, poor healthcare funding in 7 northern states comes to light

By Aminu Abubakar

Reports revealing that USAID has halted its funding for the fight against critical diseases, including malaria and HIV, have sparked various reactions.

SolaceBase investigates how the funding cuts could impact the healthcare landscape in Nigeria’s Northwestern states.

In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) identified Kano State as the leader in malaria cases in the Northwestern region of Nigeria.

As of 2021, WHO estimates indicated that Kano State recorded six million malaria cases, while Kebbi had an estimated two million cases. Katsina recorded 3.1 million, Sokoto had 1.78 million, and Zamfara registered 1.6 million malaria cases.

HIV prevalence in the region is also a concern. The National Agency for the Control of AIDS reports that the adult HIV prevalence in Northwestern Nigeria is at 0.6%.

Northwestern states have been significant recipients of USAID funding. In 2020, the U.S. agency distributed 3.1 million bed nets to Zamfara through the Presidential Malaria Initiative, a move aimed at reducing malaria-related deaths. Dr. Jose Tchofa, USAID’s Senior Malaria Advisor, highlighted the importance of collective efforts in combating the disease, emphasizing the crucial role of bed nets in preventing malaria.

With malaria being a major health threat in Nigeria, the country accounted for 27% of global malaria cases and 31% of malaria-related deaths in 2022, according to the 2022 World Malaria Report.

The majority of malaria cases occur in rural areas, and Northwestern states are no exception, contributing significantly to Nigeria’s overall malaria burden.

In April 2024, the Kano State Government was quoted as saying that it discovered sixty-two deaths from malaria in three months. 474, 565 cases were said to have been treated.

“In Kano, it is recorded that malaria is the single most common reason for about 60 percent of outpatient visits and consultations. It is estimated that in the year 2023 alone, more than 3.2 million hospital visits were due to the menace of malaria, which is a preventable disease. In economic terms, malaria morbidity and mortality have led to the loss of billions of Naira in drugs, non-school and work attendance, hospital stays, and other out-of-pocket expenses.”

“In the year 2023, the outpatient attendance relating to malarial cases was 3,435,750, with total fever cases screened for malaria recorded at 3,247,651 and 2,348,264 confirmed to have malaria (99.0%) treated with ACTs. Meanwhile, 448 mortality was recorded.”

For the first quarter of this year, 480,104 individuals were diagnosed to have confirmed uncomplicated malaria, with 474,565 (98.8%) treated with ACTs and (62) mortality cases recorded,” the Commissioner for Health, Abubakar Labaran, made this known while briefing newsmen during the World Malaria Day celebration at Muhammadu Wase Teaching Hospital (MAWTH).

Despite these alarming figures, state healthcare spending continues to fall short. In 2023, Kano State allocated N4.1 billion for Primary Healthcare capital expenditures but ended up spending nothing by year’s end.

Similarly, Sokoto State earmarked N100 million for its Primary Healthcare Center in 2023, yet no funds were utilized.

Zamfara State, too, faced challenges, budgeting N420 million for primary healthcare capital needs in 2023 but failing to spend any of it. In 2024, the Zamfara Primary Healthcare Board allocated a budget of N211 million but only spent N113 million.

For 2024, Kano State allocated N6.6 billion to its Primary Healthcare Management Board, but only N619.5 million was spent by the end of the year. Katsina State allocated N4.5 billion, but only N1.6 billion was expended.

Poor sanitation is usually blamed in part for malaria prevalence.

Data published by the National Bureau of Statistics shows that 73% of households in Kaduna lack access to sanitary facilities, another 51% of households in Kano lack access to sanitary facilities, another 61% lack access to sanitary facilities in Katsina, 79% lack access in Kebbi.

These budgetary shortfalls raise serious concerns about the region’s ability to effectively combat malaria, HIV, and other public health challenges, especially in the face of reduced international support.