Korede Abdullah in Lagos
An estimated 1.2 lives would be lost should the United States makes well its fresh threat to suspend funding for GAVI.
A global organization responsible for producing and distributing vaccines to developing nations, including Nigeria, GAVI has disclosed on Thursday.
“If we don’t get US support, that translates into 1.2 million deaths over the next five years, among children who will be unprotected against deadly diseases like measles and diphtheria,” GAVI’s CEO, Sania Nishtar told Reuters, adding, “We hope that a final decision has not been made,” expressing her intent to engage with US officials.
GAVI, which relies on $300 million in annual US funding, is now at risk of being unable to sustain its immunization efforts. To prevent this, Nishtar and GAVI’s board chairperson, José Barroso, are traveling to Washington to advocate for continued support.
A document from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) further reveals that the Trump administration plans to scale back malaria interventions.
According to Reuters, the report detailing international aid programs to be terminated was shared with US lawmakers, stating that 5,341 awards, amounting to nearly $76 billion, will be cancelled.
While $48 billion is still allocated for HIV, tuberculosis, and food aid, the majority of health projects, including malaria programs, are being discontinued.
The decision has sparked concerns among global health leaders, particularly Nishtar, who warns of dire consequences.
The funding cuts reflect a broader shift under Trump’s “America First” policy, which has significantly reduced foreign aid contributions.
Since his return to office, the administration has halted 83 percent of USAID programs and slashed World Health Organization (WHO) funding, affecting healthcare services in Nigeria and beyond. WHO has already reduced its spending and suspended some programs due to the absence of US support.
The potential withdrawal of aid for GAVI further threatens vaccine supply chains, with Nigeria among the hardest-hit nations.
In 2024 alone, Nigeria received thousands of doses of Mpox, malaria, cholera, and meningitis vaccines from GAVI, highlighting the critical role of these programs in combating disease outbreaks. (With Agency Report)
