The United States government has suspended funding for HIV treatment in Nigeria and other developing nations following an executive order by President Donald Trump.
The directive, signed on his first day in office, instructed all government agencies managing foreign development aid programmes to immediately halt the disbursement of funds.
As a result, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has ceased operations for at least 90 days, leaving global health funding temporarily frozen.
With an annual budget of $6.5 billion, PEPFAR provides treatment for over 20.6 million people worldwide and has saved an estimated 26 million lives. However, the US State Department defended the decision, stating, “The United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
Effect on Nigeria
Nigeria, home to about two million people living with HIV, is heavily dependent on PEPFAR for life-saving medications and healthcare support. Over the years, the initiative has contributed more than $6 billion to Nigeria’s national HIV/AIDS response.
Health experts warn that the suspension or potential termination of the programme will have devastating consequences, threatening access to treatment and hindering efforts to control the virus.
While there is speculation that Marco Rubio’s appointment as Secretary of State could reinstate PEPFAR due to his past support for the initiative, no exemption has been announced.
