The United States government has suspended financial support for HIV treatment programs in Nigeria and other developing countries following an executive order signed by former President Donald Trump.
The decision has resulted in a 90-day halt in disbursements from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
This initiative, which has an annual budget of $6.5 billion, has been instrumental in providing life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20.6 million people worldwide.
PEPFAR, since its inception, has reportedly saved 26 million lives and stands as a critical pillar of global health efforts.
However, the executive order signed on Trump’s first day in office directed all government agencies managing foreign development aid to pause the distribution of funds.
According to NPR, the suspension of PEPFAR funding could last for at least three months unless the programme receives an exemption. Public health experts are now raising concerns about the potential long-term effects, with fears that the Trump administration might entirely terminate the programme.
US State Department spokesperson Tammy Bruce was quoted as saying the US “is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
Nigeria, one of the countries most affected by HIV globally, stands to be significantly impacted by this suspension. With approximately two million Nigerians living with HIV, PEPFAR has been critical in providing life-saving medication and bolstering healthcare infrastructure.
Over the years, PEPFAR has contributed over $6 billion to Nigeria’s national HIV/AIDS response, saving countless lives and helping control the spread of the virus.
