Lagos leads bold drive to secure sustainable funding for HIV, TB, Malaria

In a decisive move toward health sector sustainability, the Lagos State Government has convened a three-day High-Level Stakeholders’ Validation Meeting to review and validate findings from the HIV, Tuberculosis, and Malaria Cost of Doing Business Assessment and Transition Plan.

The engagement, organised in collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) and development partners, marks a critical step in Lagos State’s efforts to secure long-term financing for essential health programmes.

Held at Amber Residence, GRA Ikeja, the meeting brought together representatives from government ministries, development agencies, civil society, and the private sector to evaluate the financial realities of delivering HIV, TB, and malaria services and to design a sustainable transition framework as donor funding continues to decline globally.

Delivering the welcome address, the Permanent Secretary, Office of the Chief of Staff, Mr. Kadiri Semiu Oluwasanu, said the initiative represents a forward-thinking approach to ensuring Lagos State maintains momentum in tackling infectious diseases despite global funding shifts.

“The Cost of Doing Business allows us to understand, with clarity and precision, what it truly costs to deliver quality health services,” he explained.

“Transition planning ensures that we move confidently from dependency to transparency, from government-driven interventions to locally-owned and efficiently managed programmes.”

Kadiri described the validation process as a pivotal moment for redefining accountability and local ownership in health financing, noting that Lagos has consistently led Nigeria’s response to infectious diseases through its strong health infrastructure and multi-sectoral partnerships.

He also lauded the Chief Executive Officer of the Lagos State AIDS Control Agency (LSACA), Dr. Folakemi Animashaun, for steering the state’s HIV response with strategic foresight, while appreciating development partners such as the Global Fund for their continued collaboration.

In her opening remarks, Dr. Animashaun reaffirmed the Sanwo-Olu administration’s commitment to embedding health in the broader agenda of social and economic development under the Health and Environment pillar of the THEMES Plus Agenda.

“This engagement ensures that health remains not just an outcome, but a driver of productivity, stability, and human capital development,” she said.

“Over the next three days, we have the opportunity to validate findings, harmonise perspectives, and define actionable steps to secure the future of HIV, TB, and malaria services in Lagos.”

Throughout the sessions, stakeholders examined the cost implications of sustaining disease control programmes within business environments and proposed mechanisms for integrating the Cost of Doing Business framework into state planning and budgeting. The consensus was clear: sustainability must be embedded within policy, institutional, and financial systems.

Participants called for continuous advocacy, capacity building, and policy reforms to institutionalise long-term funding strategies, while also urging stronger private sector engagement in addressing the economic impact of health challenges on productivity.

At the close of deliberations, stakeholders commended LSACA, NACA, and development partners for their collaborative efforts, pledging continued support for policies and initiatives that strengthen public health, economic resilience, and sustainable development in Lagos State and Nigeria as a whole.