Trump Withholds HIV/AIDS funding for Nigeria, Others

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President of the United States of America, Donald Trump

In a significant policy shift, the Trump administration of the United States of America has suspended funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a cornerstone programme for HIV treatment in Africa and developing countries, for the period of 90 days.

Announced on 24 January, 2025, this decision has sent shockwaves through the international health community, with profound implications for Nigeria’s present fight against HIV/AIDS.

This decision emanates  from President Trump’s executive order on foreign aid, which he signed on his first day in office alongside many others in other sectors of the country.  The order instructed all government agencies managing foreign development assistance programmes to halt the disbursement of funds for ongoing and new projects

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Established in 2003, the financial reports from the US State Department fact sheet showed that PEPFAR has invested over $85 billion across 54 countries, and has impacted the lives of an estimated 26 million people since its inception.

Quoting the Al Jazeera news network, the US Government response statement said thus; “The United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people,”

However, public health experts fear the new Trump administration might terminate the entire PEPFAR and foreign aid funding programme.

Recent data shows that about two million Nigerians currently live with HIV with many of them benefitting from PEPFAR.

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This decision has raised alarms among global health organisations, with experts warning of life-threatening consequences for benefiting nations.

Nigerian health officials and organisations are expressing deep concern over the potential setbacks in the national HIV/AIDS response. The Institute of Human Virology Nigeria has expressed worry stating that, without continued U.S. assistance, the progress made in combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria could be severely compromised.

As the 90-day review period progresses, stakeholders in the health sectors are advocating for the reinstatement of PEPFAR funding to prevent a situation of wasted efforts in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

Decisions made in coming months would be crucial in determining the future trajectory of HIV treatment and prevention efforts, particularly in countries like Nigeria that have heavily relied on U.S. support.

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