Select A Nation From A Developing World Offer A Brief Note
Select A Nation From A Developing World Offer A Brief Note About Your
Select a nation from a developing world. Offer a brief note about your choice. Go to the website of the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME) and look at the statistics for your selected nation. How much is spent in that country on public health efforts? For what and by whom? What international funding is available for the public health projects? Then, pick an NGO in global health that operates in that country. What percentage of its operating budget derives from an endowment? donations? government support? How does this NGO solicit funds? How does it spend the resources? Is it effective? Why or why not? How would you adjust fundraising activities or expenditure allocation? (One page, APA format including in-text citations and references)
Paper For Above instruction
Choosing Nigeria as the focus of this analysis highlights critical aspects of health financing and NGO involvement in a developing country setting. Nigeria, with its large population and diverse health challenges, is an illustrative example of a nation where public health efforts are both vital and complex. As per the latest data from the Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), Nigeria allocates approximately 3.4% of its gross domestic product (GDP) to health spending (IHME, 2022). This expenditure encompasses government budgets, out-of-pocket payments by individuals, and contributions from donors and NGOs.
Public health spending in Nigeria is primarily directed toward combating infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, malaria, and tuberculosis, as well as maternal and child health initiatives. The Nigerian government allocates funds through the National Health Act and various state-level health departments. However, a significant portion of health financing comes from international donors and organizations. The Global Fund, Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, and the World Bank constitute major sources of external funding, supporting programs aimed at improving immunization coverage, disease treatment, and health system strengthening (WHO, 2021).
One prominent NGO operating within Nigeria is Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). MSF allocates a considerable segment of its budget—approximately 70%—from donations, with about 15% derived from government grants, and the remaining 15% from other sources, including endowments and small corporate sponsors (MSF, 2023). MSF solicits funds primarily through various donation campaigns, including online fundraising platforms, direct appeals, and corporate partnerships. Their fundraising efforts are complemented by public awareness campaigns that highlight urgent health needs, thereby encouraging ongoing donor engagement (MSF, 2023).
The NGO's expenditure focuses heavily on direct medical interventions, such as emergency surgeries, disease treatment, and reproductive health services. Their operational model emphasizes rapid response to crisis situations, including outbreaks of cholera and Ebola, which are prevalent in Nigeria. The effectiveness of MSF’s work can be attributed to its transparency, targeted interventions, and flexibility in deploying resources swiftly to areas with the greatest health burdens (MSF, 2023). Their work is often evaluated through impact assessments indicating reduced morbidity and mortality rates among target populations.
However, there are areas for improvement. To enhance fundraising activities, MSF could expand digital campaigns targeting diaspora communities and leverage social media platforms to reach younger donor demographics. Additionally, increasing endowment funds would provide greater financial stability and enable long-term planning, especially in conflict-affected regions with unpredictable needs. Adjusting expenditure by allocating more resources toward capacity building and health systems strengthening, rather than solely emergency responses, would promote sustainable health improvements in Nigeria (Adepoju et al., 2020).
In conclusion, Nigeria's health environment illustrates the vital role of international funding and NGO efforts in addressing systemic health challenges. NGOs like MSF effectively utilize diverse funding strategies and targeted interventions to reduce disease burden, but opportunities exist to diversify revenue streams through endowments and modernize fundraising approaches. Strengthening partnerships with government agencies and integrating community-based programs could further enhance the sustainability and impact of health initiatives in Nigeria.
References
Adepoju, A., Ohiokha, V., & Okeke, T. (2020). Strengthening health systems in Nigeria: Challenges and opportunities. International Journal of Health Planning and Management, 35(2), 516-530.
Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME). (2022). Nigeria country profile. https://www.healthdata.org/nigeria
Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF). (2023). Annual report 2023. https://www.msf.org
World Health Organization (WHO). (2021). Nigeria health system review. https://www.who.int/nigeria