The Federal Executive Council (FEC) of Nigeria has approved a budget of N9.99 billion towards the procurement of antiretroviral medicines for people living with HIV/AIDS and the necessary upgrades to cancer treatment facilities across the nation. This decision was announced by the Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, during a briefing following the FEC meeting held at the State House in Abuja.

The funding aims to eliminate the concerns that had emerged earlier this year regarding the potential shortage of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in Nigeria. Minister Salako reassured the public that with this allocation, fears of an ARV shortage can be alleviated. The contract for the procurement of these essential medicines has been awarded to Fidson Healthcare, under a presidential treatment programme that supports individuals living with HIV and AIDS.

This initiative aligns with President Bola Tinubu’s ongoing efforts to enhance the healthcare sector by localizing pharmaceutical procurement, thereby fostering the domestic industry. Such steps not only aim to improve the health outcomes for those dealing with HIV/AIDS and cancer but also seek to strengthen the local economy by utilizing local pharmaceutical companies for these critical supplies.