US Cuts Funding to GAVI: How Nigeria and Other Countries Could Be Affected
The United States has decided to stop funding GAVI, the organization that provides vaccines to developing countries, including Nigeria. This decision could have serious consequences for millions of children who rely on these vaccines to prevent deadly diseases.
US Plans to Reduce Global Health Support
A document from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) shows that the government plans to reduce its support for several health programs, including malaria interventions. Reuters reports that the document was shared with US lawmakers, listing aid programs that will be discontinued.
According to the report, 5,341 awards will be canceled, totaling nearly $76 billion. Of this, around $48 billion has already been committed to ongoing programs, including HIV and tuberculosis treatments, as well as food aid for countries affected by war and natural disasters. However, most health-related programs, including those fighting malaria, will no longer receive funding.
Impact on Children’s Health
A US State Department spokesperson said that funding decisions were made based on government priorities. Programs that did not align with these priorities were discontinued.
GAVI’s CEO, Sania Nishtar, warns that these cuts will put millions of children at risk. She explained that without the US’s annual $300 million contribution, vaccine programs could suffer. Next week, she and GAVI’s board chairperson, José Barroso, will visit Washington to push for continued funding.
“If US support is withdrawn, we could see 1.2 million children die in the next five years due to lack of vaccines for diseases like measles and diphtheria,” she told Reuters. She remains hopeful that the decision is not final.
Global Health Programs Under Threat
GAVI is just one of many health organizations affected by the US government’s new policies. Since returning to office, the administration has cut back funding for the World Health Organization (WHO) and reduced 80% of foreign aid contracts.
In January, the US stopped funding WHO and halted all foreign aid to developing countries, severely impacting healthcare services in places like Nigeria. The government is also moving to shut down USAID, which manages 90% of US foreign aid.
Earlier reports revealed that 83% of USAID programs and over 5,200 contracts have been terminated. WHO has also been forced to scale back its operations due to the loss of US funding.
Nigeria’s Vaccine Supply at Risk
The decision to cut GAVI funding could have a serious impact on Nigeria, which depends heavily on the organization for vaccines. In 2024 alone, Nigeria received thousands of doses for diseases like Mpox, malaria, cholera, and meningitis (MenFive) through GAVI’s support.
Without continued funding, vaccine availability in Nigeria and other developing countries could decline sharply, leading to outbreaks of preventable diseases. The coming weeks will be crucial as global health leaders work to find alternative funding sources to keep vaccination programs running.
