U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to pause nearly all foreign aid funding has disrupted a key program that supports Nigeria and other nations in combating diseases like HIV/AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis.
The programme, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), is a highly successful initiative launched in 2003 by the U.S. government to fight the global HIV/AIDS epidemic. Over the years, PEPFAR has provided life-saving antiretroviral treatments, testing, and education to over 20.6 million people worldwide, saving an estimated 26 million lives.
It has also helped in fighting malaria and tuberculosis.
Trump’s decision stems from an executive order he signed on his first day in office, halting U.S. foreign assistance programs for 90 days while their operations are reviewed. This freeze, affecting nearly all global health funding, leaves PEPFAR operations in limbo, sparking fears of significant setbacks in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Nigeria, with one of the highest HIV burdens globally and approximately two million people living with the disease, heavily relies on PEPFAR’s support.
PEPFAR, established in 2003 by President George W. Bush, is a $6.5 billion annual programme that has saved an estimated 26 million lives worldwide by providing antiretroviral (ARV) medications, testing, and education to over 20.6 million people.
Nigeria, with approximately two million people living with HIV, is one of the countries most reliant on PEPFAR funding.
Over the years, the programme has invested more than $6 billion into Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response, supplying life-saving medications and bolstering the healthcare system. Without this support, the country’s efforts to control the epidemic could falter.
“Catastrophic”
According to NPR, quoting a USAID official, the halt applies fully to PEPFAR, leaving ongoing programs and contractors uncertain about their future. Jeremy Konyndyk, a former USAID official, told NPR that the immediate cessation of funding could halt ARV treatments for millions, jeopardizing lives and undoing years of progress.
Public health experts, including Asia Russell of Health GAP, have described the abrupt stop as “catastrophic,” with long-term harm to global AIDS prevention efforts.
In Nigeria, where PEPFAR provides critical support for HIV treatment, the freeze could lead to medication shortages and increased transmission rates.
Nigeria’s significant HIV burden makes it particularly vulnerable to funding disruptions. The loss of PEPFAR would not only impact patients but also strain the country’s healthcare infrastructure, which heavily depends on U.S. support.
The Trump administration has defended the funding freeze, stating that the U.S. will no longer “blindly dole out money” without measurable returns. However, the global health community fears that the move could signal a broader shift in U.S. commitment to international health programmes.
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