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Non-teaching workers decry poor funding of institutions

Non-teaching workers decry poor funding of institutions
Funding
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Dec. 3, 2019 (NAN) The Non-Academic Staff Union of Educational and Associated Institutions (NASU) has raised an alarm over poor funding of educational systems in the country, saying `it is a major factor promoting low development and productivity’’.
The Association’s President, Mr Chris Ani, who said this at the 7th Quadrennial National Delegates Conference of the Association in Abuja on Tuesday, stressed the need for tiers of government to reduce poverty among workers in educational institutions.
According to him, the union has played and continue to play a critical role in struggles aimed at ensuring that governments at all levels adequately fund educational, health and research institutions.
“We do this, conscious of the fact that the neglect of the funding of our public health and educational institutions is at the heart of endemic poverty among workers and the masses of this nation.
“Our public office holders are no longer concerned with the state of public health and educational institutions as they and members of their families have since lost faith in these institutions.
“They rather have resorted  to patronising private health and educational institutions at home and abroad, at great cost to taxpayers of this nation.
“Also at the heart of daily advocacy and struggles of the union are issues of improved salaries, wages, allowances and other conditions of services of our members and job security.’’
Ani noted that with the theme, “Funding Education, Health, Research Institutions and Other Social Services in a Depressed Economy: Challenges and Prospects”, more efforts were needed to implement the payment of peculiar allowances to staff of Polytechnics and Colleges of Education.
The president also listed other challenges to include payment of peculiarity allowance to Non-Teaching staff in Primary and Post Primary schools, Re-negotiation of the year 2009 and 2010 FGN/NASU Agreement, and implementation of 65 years retirement age for Non-research staff of Research Institutes.
He stressed that State Governments ought to implement the retirement age policy and ensure appropriate funding of National Library of Nigeria and State Libraries Boards.
On Nigeria’s economy, Ani said it remained in a state of comatose as a result of over-reliance on revenue from oil.
He also noted the need for tiers of government to fashion out and implement policies that would grow the economy and bring about real development of the nation.
“Permit me to re-emphasis what has consistently been said that Nigeria’s economy needs to be diversified and that economic policies of governments must aim at growth and development; the policies must have as its focus, the wellbeing of citizens.’’
He said Nigeria’s taxation policies should be looked into, as it appeared that workers pay more taxes than others, calling for closure of the widening tax gaps between the rich and the poor.
“The increase in Value Added Tax and the increases in the charges of withdrawals and deposits by the Central Bank of Nigeria are very provocative to a workforce that is already over-burdened with excessive Pay As You Earn tax.
“The tax system in Nigeria is not broad based as it is very clear that only workers pay taxes in this country.
“It is unacceptable that the country is ever ready to give tax concessions and tax holidays to business while increasing taxes that affect workers adversely.’’
He called on the Federal Government to stop paying lip service to the fight against corruption and develop the political will and courage to tackle the issue of corruption, while seeking out alternatives to end rising youth unemployment.
Earlier, Deputy President, Nigeria Labour Congress, Mr Amaechi Asugwuni, noted that the constant disregard of agreements with educational unions had made the learning environment more un-conducive.
Asugwuni said that with challenges of funding in institutions, productivity level had reduced, pledging the commitment of the labour congress to continue to support the leadership of NASU in its mandate and vision of an improved system.
The deputy president called on state governments to speedy up processes to pay the national minimum wage, saying that the union, in partnership with the Trade union congress, was monitoring current efforts in all states.
Edo Governor, Godwin Obaseki, said there was the need for tiers of government to strengthen their institutions as a way of meeting the challenges of development.
According to him, the country has changed and the only thing that will enable us to adapt is to see that innovative ideas are available for change to occur.
“The difference between developing countries and developed countries is institutionalisation process. In developed countries, you find that over time they have learnt to create systems and institutions that outlived individuals.
“Individuals will come and go but those institutions remain and they last for thousands of years.
“As we strive towards becoming a developed country, the first thing should be more on what we create not whom we create, more on things we put in place for the future generation will see and utilise much more than what will benefit us today. Let’s begin to think longer term than just for now’’.
Highlight of the event was the presentation of award to Gov. Godwin Obaseki, JAMB Registrar, Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, Vice Chancellor, Imo State University, Prof. Adaobi Obasi, and the Minister of Labour and Employment, Dr Chris Ngige. (NAN)
TAK/AMM/ETS
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Edited by Abiemwense Moru/Ephraims Sheyin

Health

ARD seeks huge investment in healthcare funding

ARD seeks huge investment for healthcare funding

By Ummul Idris
Funding
Abuja, April 25, 2019 (NAN) The Association of Resident Doctors (ARD), FCT chapter, has called for huge investment to achieve Universal Health Coverage (UHC) in Nigeria.

Dr Roland Aigbovo, the President of the association, made the appeal in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Thursday in Abuja.

He said for this to be achieved, there had to be complete elimination or reduction to the lowest minimum of out-of-pocket expenses.

According to him, healthcare for all can be achieved by huge investment in healthcare funding and financing by government at all levels

He said the investment in the healthcare was what gave rise to the health insurance scheme and must be encouraged by all.

He stated that the scheme worked by pooling of resources together for the good of all, stressing that it was a scheme that made healthcare affordable.

Aigbovo noted that government efforts to achieve universal health for Nigeria is below expectation, especially when compared to the rest of the world.

He called on governments at all levels, community and religious leaders, all employers of labour to ensure enrolment into the insurance scheme.

He said that if enrolment was improved upon, it would benefit the citizenry and ensure that everybody had access to healthcare.

The president stated that this would come through proper enlightenment of the citizenry on the benefits of the scheme.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that UHC is the provision of health to all irrespective of social status and location. (NAN)
UMD/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

General news

NEMA seeks adequate funding, equipment for swift response to disasters

Emergency

Lokoja, March 28, 2019 (NAN) The National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) is asking for adequate funding and equipment from stakeholders to enable it to carry out swift intervention and response to disasters in the country.

The Managing Director of the agency, Dr Mustapha Maihaja, made the demand in Lokoja on Thursday while speaking at the 2019 first stakeholders meeting.

Maihaja also called for the equipping of the agency with adequate personnel, tools, and comprehensive operational plans ahead of disasters.

According to him, the measures are necessary to reduce harm and mitigate the consequences of disasters when they strike.

The director-general, who was represented by Mr Bitrus Samuel, NEMA’s Head of Abuja Operations Office, said that the meeting was called to appraise the capacity and readiness of state institutions to respond to emergencies .

“NEMA routinely organises stakeholders meeting to’, among many other things, appraise preparedness and response capabilities of organisations with a view to forestalling emergencies as well as evaluating operational plans and strategies,” he said.

Maihaja stated that disaster management requires concerted efforts of all stakeholders to achieve meaningful and adequate response.

He also stressed the need for stakeholders to meet regularly to identify weaknesses in capabilities in order to work together to close gaps and augment appropriately .

In his remarks, Mr Yusuf Omateno, the Executive Secretary, Kogi State Emergency Management Agency (KOSEMA), said that the essence of the meeting was to make stakeholders aware of the need to take preemptive measures against any form of disaster.

He said that the state, being the gateway to the North and South, was vulnerable to emergencies.

According to him, that situation has made it imperative for government to be prepared always.

Omateno said that going by the prediction of the Nigerian Meteorological Agency,  the state might not experience flood this year.

He, however, said that government could not afford to take things for granted.

He said that epidemics, road accidents, water mishaps, air pollution, and windstorms were prevalent in the state.

The executive secretary expressed gratitude to President Muhammadu Buhari and NEMA for the assistance rendered to the state during the 2018 flood that destroyed parts of the state. (NAN)
KKA /YEE
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Edited by Emmanuel Yashim

Health

PHCs: NGO demands more funding for healthcare services

PHCs: NGO demands more funding for healthcare services
By Douglas Okoro
Healthcare
Abakaliki, March 25, 2019 (NAN) The Anabelles Bogi Development Initiative (ABDI), an NGO, has called on the Federal Government to properly fund the nation’s Primary Health Care (PHC) system to improve service delivery.
The Executive Director of ABDI, Mrs Uche Ebenezer, made the appeal at the end of one-day educational workshop organised for nurses/midwives from the 13 local government areas of Ebonyi at the National Obstetric Fistula Centre, Abakaliki.
The workshop was also attended by selected senior nursing officers/midwives from various health institutions in Nigeria and representatives of the National Association of Nigeria Nurses and Midwives (NANNM).
The theme of the workshop was: “Expanding Primary Health Care – Roles of Nurses Toward the Attainment of Universal Health Coverage in Nigeria’’.
Ebenezer appealed to governments at all levels to inject more funds in the PHC delivery in Nigeria to boost operational efficiency.
According to her, more funding for the nation’s PHCs would not only boost efficiency but also provide affordable healthcare services, especially to indigent members of the society.
“I call on President Muhammadu Buhari and state governors who were elected in the just concluded 2019 general elections to think toward revamping the primary sector to boost healthcare delivery services to people living in rural areas.
“The PHCs, if well equipped, made to be functional and habitable by nurses that it would help to reduce the high rate of maternal and child deaths witnessed in most communities in the country.
“We are focusing on bringing to fore the role of nurses as primary healthcare providers in achieving universal health coverage in Nigeria.
“Yes, there is gender inequality and health inequity in the nation and this has become a hindrance to the attainment of universal healthcare in Nigeria.
“Nurses are poised to provide healthcare services at the primary healthcare level, however, the motivation to do so are perhaps hindered by the poor state of primary healthcare centres in Nigeria,’’ Ebenezer said.
The director stated that the organisation had delivered community-based related health services, particularly HIV/AIDS services to over 57,630 beneficiaries and vowed to launch more campaigns against the spread of HIV/AIDS in Ebonyi communities.
“Thinking and rethinking of healthcare in Nigeria should start from encouraging citizens to access healthcare service at the primary level before moving to the tertiary level.
“Nurses should be involved in community mobilisation, country leadership and implementation of the community-based health insurance scheme as their contributions to the attainment of universal health care in Nigeria,’’ she added. (NAN)
ODO/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

NSHIP disburses N272m to Bauchi health facilities

NSHIP disburses N272m to Bauchi health facilities
By Mohammed Ahmed Kaigama
Healthcare
Bauchi, March 14, 2019 (NAN) Dr Adamu Muhammed, the Bauchi State Project Coordinator, Nigerian States Health Investment Project (NSHIP), says government has disbursed more than N272 million to participating health facilities across the state.
Muhammed disclosed this at a meeting of the three participating local government healthcare authorities of the Performance Based Financing (PBF) steering committee for fourth quarter 2018, in Bauchi on Thursday.
“The sum of N272,666,103 is to be shared among health facilities participating in the Additional Financing Nigeria State Health Investment Project (AF-NSHIP) from Bauchi, Dass and Katagum Local Government Areas.
Mohammed said the money disbursed was for subsidy earnings, for the fourth quarter of 2018.
According to him, Bauchi local government was paid N110,752,934; Dass N85,467,149; and Katagum N76,746,020.
He pointed out that the amount was approved after the validation of the fourth quarter invoice by the committee.
Mohammed explained that the presentations of independent verifier showed improvement in domains of outpatient, referral, antenatal care, maternity, family planning and children who complete their immunisation schedules.
“The least performing domains are growth monitoring among children 0-23 months and 23-5 years; individual psycho-social counselling and HIV mothers breastfeeding and receiving ARV.
“Unlike third quarter of 2018, where five health facilities in Katagum and Bauchi were sanctioned. This time all facilities performed well,” he said.
Responding on behalf of the three local government PHC Directors, Alhaji Bako Gamawa, commended NSHIP for the intervention.
He said the disbursement would boost health services in participating health facilities in the benefitting local government areas. (NAN)
MAK/OOA/MST
Edited by Olabisi Akinbode/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Nigeria needs N186m annually to address malnutrition – FG

Nigeria needs N186m annually to address malnutrition – FG

By Angela Atabo/Jessica Dogo
Malnutrition
Abuja, Dec. 14, 2018 (NAN) The Federal Government says Nigeria needs N186 million annually for five years to address the challenge of malnutrition in the country.

Dr Chris Isokpunwu, Head of Nutrition, Federal Minitry of Health, disclosed this at a two-day Nutrition Budget Tracking Workshop for Civil Society Organisations and Media in Abuja on Friday.

While presenting “How to Track Budget line for Nutrition: Assessing Public Expenditure on Nutrition through Budget Analysis’’, Isokpunwa said the overall money needed to address malnutrition in Nigeria is $912 million.

He said that malnutrition referred to deficiencies, excesses or imbalances in a person’s intake of energy or nutrients, adding that the term malnutrition covers two broad groups of conditions – under nutrition and overweight.

According to him, under nutrition includes stunting which is low height for age, wasting which is low weight for height, underweight which is low weight for age and micronutrient deficiencies or insufficiencies, a lack of important vitamins and minerals.

He said that overweight includes obesity and diet-related non-communicable diseases such as heart disease, stroke, diabetes and cancer.

“The National Strategic Plan of Action is a cost nutrition plan to tackle malnutrition in Nigeria and the total cost required for that plan is $912 million U.S dollars, that is close to a billion Naira.

“This amount is spread over a period of five years which comes to about 186 million U.S dollars annually to address malnutrition in Nigeria.

“Most of it will be used to treat children with serve acute malnutrition and also to enlighten people on behaviour change.’’

According to Isokpunwu, malnutrition is wide spread in the country; though it is higher in the North-West followed by the North-East then North-Central.

He said that it is 50 per cent in the North-West, 42 per cent in the North-East, in the North-Central; it dropped to about 24 per cent but it is increasing in the southern region.

He said that in the South-East region it is now 17 per cent, adding that in all the three southern region malnutrition seemed to be going up so it was a national issue that needed to be address holistically.

“If we now talk about equity, equity is about ensuring that those areas that have higher issues get higher attention.

“This, however, does not mean that the areas that have lower issues get lower attention so as to ensure that malnutrition is addressed across the nation as a whole,’’ he said.

Mr Muhammed Muritala, the Programme Officer on Nutrition Advocacy, Civil Society Legislative Advocacy Centre (CISLAC),bsaid that inadequate provision of Community Management of Acute Malnutrition (CMAM) across the country was worrisome.

Muritala explained that the workshop was aimed at engaging the media and civil societies to advocate budget provision for malnourished children as well as improve the sate of nutrition in the country.

He said that though the Federal Government made allocation for funding nutrition, the budgets had yet to be released in most states, leaving developing partners to champion and mobilise resources alone.

Also, the Nutrition Specialist, UNICEF Nigeria, Chizoba Steve-Edemba, estimated that 2.6 million children in Nigeria suffer from malnutrition and these children are nine times likely to die.

Chizoba charged the federal government to address the situation and tasked CSOs and the media to amplify the processes and hold governments accountable for funding provided.

The UNICEF nutrition specialist said that this would go a long way to reduce the number of malnourished children in the country. (NAN)
ATAB/JEZ/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

Senator urges executive to release $1m for Family Planning

Senator urges executive to release $1m for Family Planning
By Chinenye Offor
Funding
Abuja, Dec. 6, 2018 (NAN) Sen. Olarenwa Tejuosho, Chairman Senate Committee on Health, has called on the executive to release the additional one million dollars meant for Family Planning services.
Tejuosho (APC-Ogun) made the call during the 5th Nigeria Family Planning Conference on Thursday in Abuja.
He noted that FP was a major contributor in the progress of Nigeria, saying it will help reduce the nation’s populace.
“If we continue to allow the families grow, it means we are heading to doom.
“The most important thing is the “green dot’’ and every woman should be encouraged to walk into any outlet with the green dot to access FP services,” he said.
The chairman also said that it was important for the nation to improve on their FP purposes in order to reach its full potential.
He added that investment in FP was one of the smartest investments in achieving demographic dividend.
Tejuosho further said that access to FP services would help reduce mortality rates in the society.
He therefore admonished the government, private sector and stakeholders to improve on the accessibility of FP products. (NAN)
CSO/MST
Edited by Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Health

World AIDS Day: WHO charge African countries to improve funding on HIV testing, treatment

World AIDS Day: WHO charge African countries to improve funding on HIV testing, treatment
By Yashim Katurak
Funding
Abuja, Dec. 1, 2018 (NAN) The World Health Organisation (WHO) has charged African Governments to improve funding support for HIV testing, care and treatment.
WHO said that the improved funding support would ensure all citizens get access to the services they need to live productive lives.
Dr Matshidiso Moeti, the WHO Regional Director for Africa, said this on Saturday in her message to mark the 2018 “World AIDS Day’’, commemorated every year on Dec. 1, with the theme “Know your Status’’.
Moeti said that leaders can achieve better results in reducing the spread of the virus by expanding community-based options and innovations to reach beyond health facilities.
She said that in some parts of the region, HIV testing and access to treatment was still lacking and urged leaders to have stronger political will, commitment and increase investment to achieve universal health coverage in all states.
“I call on countries to use the new HIV testing strategies and to choose a strategic mix of service delivery models to achieve universal and equitable access to HIV testing and counselling.
“We need to expand community-based options and innovations to reach beyond health facilities. We also have to build strong linkages to guarantee HIV prevention, care and treatment services after testing.
“In all this, we need the political will; we need the investment from governments, partners and private sectors, and most of all we need the communities to promote demand for HIV testing services.
“Significant progress has been made in AIDS response since 1988 and today four in five (20.8 million) people living with HIV in the African region know their status.
“In addition, more than three in five (15.3 million) people are accessing life-saving antiretroviral therapy. There is a more than 30 per cent reduction in AIDS related deaths since 2010 and people living with HIV are living longer, healthier lives thanks to the sustained access to antiretroviral therapy.
“This progress is however not uniform in our Region. For example, in West and Central Africa, only one in two (2.9 million) people living with HIV know their status.
“That is why WHO, partners and Member States in the sub-region are working together to accelerate the expansion of HIV testing programmes in order to reach people living with HIV who do not know their status and ensure that they are linked to quality and prevention services.’’
The regional director said that HIV testing remained essential in expanding treatment and ensuring that all people living with the disease could live healthy and productive lives.
She said that it was also crucial to ensure that 90 per cent of people living with HIV know their status; 90 per cent of people diagnosed with HIV receive antiretroviral therapy; and 90 per cent of people living with HIV, and who are on treatment, achieve viral load suppression.
According to Moeti, HIV testing empowers people to make choices about HIV prevention specifically how to protect themselves and their loved ones.
She noted that many young people and adult men were being left behind and others still only get tested after becoming ill.
She listed stigma and discrimination as factors still deterring people from taking an HIV test adding that access to confidential HIV testing was aslo an issue of concern.
“Many of those who are being left behind are those who are more affected by HIV including people who use drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men and prisoners.
Moeti said that as part of the new 5-year strategy for WHO, the organisation was working with Member States in the African region to strengthen their health systems and help them make progress towards universal health coverage.
She said that this would enable all people have access to the services they need without facing financial hardship. (NAN)
KRY/AIJ/MST
Edited by Abigael Joshua/Muhammad Suleiman Tola

Environment

WaterAid, CSOs seek improved budget for toilets, hygiene promotion

Hygiene
By Tosin Kolade
Abuja, Nov. 19, 2018 (NAN) As Nigeria joins the rest of the world to commemorate the 2018 World Toilet Day, some development partners and coalition of civil societies have urged tiers of government to prioritise funding.

They told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) on Monday that prioritisation of sanitation at all levels through the value chain of capturing safe disposal of faeces and improve budget allocations to the sector would go a long way to reduce spread of diseases.

A report “The Crisis in the Classroom”, WaterAid’s fourth-annual analysis of the world’s toilets, shows that the education and health of millions of children is threatened by a lack of access to toilets at school and at home.

It highlights that one-in-five primary schools and one-in-eight secondary schools globally do not have any toilets.

Also, one-in-three of the world’s schools lack adequate toilets, compromising children’s human rights to sanitation and leaving them to either use dirty, unsafe pits, defecate in the open, or stay at home.

WaterAid Nigeria Country Director, Dr ChiChi Aniagolu-Okoye, said toilets could make the difference between a child attending school, coming late or staying at home, adding that school attendance and participation could be greatly enhanced just by providing toilets.

“Schools are where children learn how to become wholesome human beings and good toilet behaviour is a fundamental, yet children are going to schools with them.

“It is shocking that Nigeria ranks third in the world with the greatest number of individuals with no access to a decent toilet. This is unacceptable and even sadder as it contributes to the deaths of nearly 60,000 children under five every year from diarrhea.’’

The country director urged tiers of government to invest more money in sanitation and ensure an integrated approach and improved transparency in monitoring and reporting.

She called on education and finance ministers at state and national levels, as well as donors, to invest in sanitation services and establish credible plans for achieving universal access within an agreed timeframe.

She also called for better coordination between key sectors ministries to develop, implement and monitor joint programmes to measure the impact of interventions and contribute to data availability.

According to her, School sanitation to meet the specific needs of girls in order to ensure their privacy, safety and dignity when managing menstruation and on other school days should be proritised.

“School sanitation should to be inclusive, enabling children with disabilities to use clean, safe, accessible toilets at school.’’

Mr Benson Attah, the National Coordinator, Society for Water and Sanitation, expressed worry over state government’s low priority toward improving access to water and sanitation in the country.

According to him, there is the need for the states to prioritise provision of these needs, as it is saddening to see that open defecation practice still occurs at a large scale.

While commending efforts of the Federal Government toward improving access to water and sanitation, Attah called for immediate implementation of progammes that would reverse these trends.

“Nigeria is presently being shielded by India, India is number one in countries with the largest open defecators, once India moves out, Nigeria will be exposed to that embarrassment.

“We hope we are able to overtake India before it moves out of that list, it is saddening that Nigeria as the giant of Africa is leading Africa in countries with the largest open defecation statistics.

“ Nigeria is the second in the world behind India, in terms of having the highest number of people defecating in the open, while in Africa, it ranks first.’’

The Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS) 2017 reports reveal that 28.5 per cent of Nigeria’s population practice open defecation and 110 million people lack access to improved sanitation.

A report by the World Bank Data and a 2017 WaterAid Report, says over 122 million Nigerians still lack access to basic sanitation facilities, ranking Nigeria third worst countries with low access to basic sanitation in rural and urban areas.

Annually, Nov. 19 has been declared by the United Nations General Assembly to create a global awareness about issues of sanitation in the contemporary world and inspire governments, development partners and individuals to take action to tackle the global sanitation crisis.

The theme of this year’s celebration is: “When Nature Calls”. This campaign is based on the narrative that when nature calls, one needs a toilet. Unfortunately, billions of people do not have access to one. (NAN)
TAK/GY
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Edited by Grace Yussuf

Health

HIV prevention: Group canvasses sustainable funding

HIV/AIDS prevention: Group canvasses sustainable funding
By Akeem Abas
Funding
Ibadan, Oct. 26, 2018 (NAN) The Resource Tracking for HIV Prevention Research and Development Working Group has called for sustained funding to support innovative HIV prevention research and rollout.
The group made the appeal in a presentation at the HIV Research for Prevention (HIVR4P 2018) conference on Thursday in Madrid, Spain.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that HIVR4P conference is the world’s only scientific conference dedicated exclusively to biomedical HIV prevention.
Some members of the group include Fatima Riaz, Kevin Fisher and Mitchell Warren of AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition (AVAC), as well as Jennifer Maple and Margaret Lidstone of the International AIDS Vaccine Initiative (IAVI), U.S.
Others are Deepak Mattur and Jose Antonio Izazola-Licea of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Switzerland.
These had since 2004, tracked trends in Research and Development (R&D) investments, as well as expenditures for biomedical HIV prevention options.
According to the group, research conducted reveals decline in funding of HIV prevention research and that progress toward impactful prevention programming can be lost without sustained funding.
“There is need to diversify the funding base by investing in sustainable and acceptable interventions that would end the epidemic.
“Results from the findings revealed that in 2017, funding for HIV prevention research and development declined by 3.6 per cent from 2016 to 1.12 billion dollars.
“Funding for HIV vaccines, microbicides, TasP and PMTCT decreased, funding towards PrEP and VMMC increased by 55 per cent and 64 per cent, respectively,’’ it stated.
The group said that U.S public sector investment declined by 6.5 per cent with funding levels at the National Institutes for Health (NIH) hitting a six-year low.
According to it, as a way of cushioning the impact of declining U.S funding, there is increased investment from Canada, Brazil, Australia, Japan, Denmark, Germany, Netherlands Ireland and Italy.
The group noted that philanthropic investment also rose slightly, with Bill and Melinda
Gates Foundation remaining the predominant funder, accounting for over 90 per cent of sector funding.
It also said that the research specifically tailored to the needs of transgender and cisgender women amounted to US 201 million dollars or 71 per cent of overall non-vaccine investment.
“Data was collected through annual surveys and direct outreach on disbursements by public, private and philanthropic funders.
“Disbursements for product development, clinical trials, implementation and behavioural research, as well as policy and advocacy were also collated to estimate annual investment in HIV prevention research and development,’’ it said.
“This data was collated in U.S dollars and investment trends were assessed; it was compared by year, prevention type, research phase, sector and geographic location.
“The area of concentration included HIV vaccines, microbicides, PrEP, treatment as prevention (TasP), voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC), prevention of mother to child transmission (PMTCT) and female condoms,” the group said. (NAN)
TAA/VIV/MST
Editing by Vivian Ihechu/Muhammad Suleiman Tola