Nigeria and the United States have partnered for many years to improve healthcare. “Together,” said Secretary of State Antony Blinken in April, “we’ve reached more than 60 million Nigerians through programs that train public health workers, invest in medical facilities, and improve access to medicines, vaccines, reproductive health care.”
Speaking at a virtual U.S.-Nigeria health partnership event, Secretary Blinken observed that, “More than 1.3 million people with HIV/AIDS are on lifesaving treatment through the U.S. program to combat HIV/AIDS around the world, PEPFAR:”
“It is a remarkable achievement that the program is rapidly closing in on epidemic control over the next two years in Nigeria. The U.S. President’s Malaria Initiative has funded 60 million mosquito nets and lifesaving treatment to cure 130 million malaria infections, which have helped cut malaria mortality by more than half in the last decade. That’s a remarkable achievement. And last year, the World Health Organization officially declared Nigeria wild poliovirus-free, an outstanding accomplishment by tireless frontline workers whom the United States was proud to support through the Global Polio Eradication Initiative.”
Now, the United States and Nigeria, and indeed the entire world, are facing the COVID-19 pandemic. “The United States is committed to helping end the pandemic in Nigeria and everywhere,” declared Secretary Blinken:
“We’ve contributed $2 billion to COVAX, the global COVID vaccine initiative. We promised another two billion between now and 2022 as other countries also raise their ambitions. I’m very pleased that COVID-19 vaccines provided by COVAX have arrived in Nigeria.”
The U.S. and Nigeria are collaborating on epidemiology, outbreak response, lab operations, data analytics, and vaccine deployment. “It’s a continuation of our $5 billion investment in our decades-long partnership in public health,” said Secretary Blinken, “and it’s a testament to the strong and respectful relationship that we’ve built over the years between our countries and between the Nigerian and American people.”
“In the months and years ahead, our ability to collaborate to improve the health of all Nigerians will be vital,” declared Secretary Blinken. “I want to convey to all of you how grateful and proud the United States is of our partnership in health with Nigeria.”
