The United States has suspended financial support for HIV treatment programmes in Nigeria and other developing countries following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The decision has led to a 90-day halt in disbursements from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a US initiative that provides life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to millions across Africa and beyond. The move stems from an order issued on Trump’s first day in office, directing government agencies managing foreign aid to temporarily freeze funding.
PEPFAR, which has an annual budget of $6.5 billion, has been a cornerstone of global health efforts, reportedly saving 26 million lives since its inception. The programme supports over 20.6 million people worldwide, including two million Nigerians living with HIV. Experts fear that without an exemption, the funding suspension could be extended or even made permanent.
Public health officials have raised alarms over the potential consequences of the funding halt.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Director-General of the World Health Organization (WHO), warned that the suspension could result in increased illness and deaths among people living with HIV.
In a statement, Dr Tedros said: “A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries.”
He further cautioned that if the funding freeze continues, it could reverse decades of progress, leading to a rise in infections and deaths—potentially bringing the world back to the HIV crisis of the 1980s and 1990s when millions died each year.
Nigeria, one of the countries with the highest HIV burden globally, is expected to be significantly impacted. PEPFAR has contributed over $6 billion to Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response, playing a crucial role in providing antiretroviral therapy and strengthening healthcare systems.
Meanwhile, a US State Department spokesperson, Tammy Bruce, defended the move, stating that the US “is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
As global health experts push for an exemption, concerns remain over the future of HIV treatment and prevention in Nigeria and other affected nations.