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By Francesca Hangeior

Nigeria’s already alarming maternal and infant mortality rates may worsen following an executive order signed by the United States President, Donald Trump, to halt funding support for malaria treatment in the country and other developing countries.

Trump, who was recently sworn in as the 47th US president, stopped the supply of medical aid related to malaria, and tuberculosis as well as the supplies of drugs and equipment meant for newborns in USAID-supported countries.

The US president halted foreign aid for 90 days with a likelihood of a longer pause in foreign assistance.

This executive order, however, made health experts express concerns that the halt in malaria funding by the Trump administration could lead to an increase in malaria-related deaths among pregnant women and children under the age of five in Nigeria.

They warned that the consequences of the funding cut would be devastating, particularly for vulnerable populations such as pregnant women and children.

Malaria is responsible for about 11 per cent of pregnancy-related deaths annually in Nigeria, according to the National Malaria Elimination Programme, an agency of the Federal Ministry of Health and Social Welfare.

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund, Nigeria accounts for nearly 20 per cent of global maternal deaths, with an estimated 576 maternal deaths per 100,000 live births.

UNICEF added that the country also has one of the highest infant mortality rates, with 69 deaths per 1,000 live births.

Similarly, the World Health Organisation reports that malaria is a leading cause of death in Nigeria, especially among pregnant women and children.

In 2023, WHO revealed that Nigeria accounted for 30.9 per cent of malaria deaths in the African region.

The global health agency noted that the disease is endemic in Nigeria, with the majority of the population at risk of infection.

The halt in malaria funding by the Trump administration experts fear could worsen the already dire situation.

PUNCH Healthwise reports that the funding previously provided through the US Government’s President’s Malaria Initiative, had been instrumental in reducing malaria-related deaths in Nigeria.

A 2024 report by PMI revealed that the U.S. president’s funding has contributed $914 million to Nigeria’s fight against malaria since 2011. This includes $73 million in 2023

In 2020, despite the constraints of COVID-19, PMI helped Nigeria provide 14.7 million treatment doses at the facility and community levels, 8.2 million of which were for pregnant women and children.

PMI distributed 7.1 million insecticide-treated mosquito nets, provided 7.2 million rapid test kits, and trained 9,300 health workers to properly diagnose and treat patients for early detection of the disease.

In 2023, the U.S. Agency for International Development, through PMI funding and programmes, delivered 13.4 million bed nets, 6 million fast-acting medicines, and 11.8 million Malaria Rapid Diagnostic Tests to clinics and communities in Nigeria.

Similarly, in November 2024, USAID committed $2.3 million to procure 4.8 million doses of life-saving malaria tablets from Swiss Pharma (Swipha) in a landmark partnership that will expand access to essential medicines in Nigeria and West Africa.

However, the plan to stop such funding has raised concerns and fear among experts, who argued that such could worsen the country’s already alarming maternal and infant mortality rates.

The experts, who spoke to our correspondent, warned that the funding cut would severely impact Nigeria’s ability to control malaria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare was limited.

A malaria researcher, Prof Chijioke Nwauche warned that the halt in malaria funding by the United States government could have a devastating impact on Nigeria’s fight against the disease.

Nwauche noted that the US had been a significant contributor to Nigeria’s malaria control efforts.

He stressed that the cut in funding could lead to a surge in malaria-related deaths, particularly among pregnant women and infants.

“Malaria is a major public health concern in Nigeria, and anything that affects our ability to control it will have a negative impact on our maternal and infant mortality rates,” Nwauche said.

The don noted that the Nigerian government needed to take urgent action to address the funding gap, by increasing domestic funding for malaria control programmes and exploring alternative sources of funding.

Nwauche also emphasised the need for the government to address the brain drain in the health sector, which has seen many medical professionals leave the country in search of better opportunities.

“We need to find a way to retain our health personnel, by providing them with better working conditions, training, and equipment,” he said.

He also called on the media to play a critical role in holding the government accountable for its actions and to ensure that the voices of Nigerians are heard.

“The media has a critical role to play in speaking truth to power, and in ensuring that the government is held accountable for its actions,” Nwauche said.

On his part, a consultant gynaecologist at the University of Lagos Teaching Hospital, Dr. Adeyemi Otunuya, stressed that without adequate funding, the country would see a surge in malaria-related deaths.

Otunuya explained that the funding cut would also impact the availability of insecticide-treated bed nets, which are a crucial tool in preventing malaria.

According to the maternal health expert, malaria is a major threat to women’s health in Nigeria, particularly during pregnancy.

The gynaecologist explained that malaria can affect women in several ways, including increasing the risk of miscarriage, stillbirth, and preterm labor.

“Malaria can also lead to anemia, which can increase the risk of maternal mortality,” he added.

The expert warned that the halt in malaria funding could worsen maternal mortality in Nigeria, particularly in rural areas where access to healthcare is limited.

“The funding cut will reduce the availability of insecticide-treated bed nets, which are a crucial tool in preventing malaria,” Otunuya noted.

The physician also stressed that the funding cut will impact the availability of antimalarial drugs, which are essential for treating malaria in pregnant women.

He urged the government to take immediate action to address the funding gap and ensure that pregnant women have access to the treatment they need.