Nigeria, US seal $2.1bn health deal with focus on Christian-run facilities

The United States has signed a five-year bilateral health memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Nigeria to strengthen the country’s health system with a strong focus on supporting Christian faith-based healthcare providers.

A statement by the US department of state said the agreement was signed on Tuesday and is expected to expand access to essential preventive and curative services, including HIV, tuberculosis, malaria, maternal and child health, and polio interventions.

Under the MoU, the US government said it intends to commit nearly $2.1 billion over five years.

“Additionally, Nigeria will increase its domestic health expenditures by nearly $3 billion during the term of the MoU, the largest co-investment any country has made to date under the America First Global Health Strategy,” the statement reads.

The agreement places particular emphasis on faith-based health institutions, especially Christian-run facilities, which play a major role in Nigeria’s health care delivery.

According to the statement, “Nigeria’s 900 faith-based clinics and hospitals currently serve more than 30 percent of Nigerians,” adding that investments in these facilities are “uniquely positioned to complement efforts in public run facilities and strengthen Nigeria’s overall health infrastructure”.

The MoU was negotiated in the context of reforms by the Nigerian government aimed at protecting Christian communities from violence.

The statement also linked continued US support to Nigeria’s progress in addressing religiously motivated violence.

At the same time, the US government said the agreement remains subject to its broader foreign policy priorities.

“The Trump Administration expects Nigeria to continue to make progress ensuring that it combats extremist religious violence against vulnerable Christian populations,” the statement reads.

“As with all foreign assistance, the President and Secretary of State retain the right to pause or terminate any programs which do not align with the national interest.

“The United States remains committed to signing multi-year bilateral MOUs on global health cooperation in the coming weeks with dozens of countries receiving U.S. health assistance.”(The Cable)