Our reporter
The US government has suspended its funding for HIV treatment in Nigeria and several other developing countries, following a controversial executive order signed by President Donald Trump.
The move has led to the immediate cessation of financial support from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a vital programme that has helped deliver HIV treatment across Africa and other regions with high infection rates. This freeze on funding is set to last for at least 90 days.
The decision follows Trump’s executive order issued on his first day in office, which mandates that all government agencies overseeing foreign development assistance must halt funding. As a result, nearly all US global health initiatives, including PEPFAR, are now affected by the freeze.
PEPFAR, which operates on an annual budget of $6.5 billion, has provided life-saving HIV/AIDS treatment to over 20.6 million people globally since its inception. The programme is credited with saving approximately 26 million lives and significantly reducing the spread of the virus. However, the US State Department has defended the decision, stating that it intends to reconsider foreign assistance to ensure that it brings direct benefits to the American people.
The suspension of PEPFAR has sparked concern among public health experts, many of whom fear the programme could be terminated altogether. While some are hopeful that Marco Rubio’s appointment as Secretary of State could lead to a more favourable outcome for PEPFAR, his historical support for the programme, others remain sceptical.
In Nigeria, where an estimated two million people are living with HIV, PEPFAR has been instrumental in providing access to essential medications and supporting the country’s healthcare infrastructure. Nigeria, one of the hardest-hit nations in terms of HIV prevalence, has received over $6 billion in aid from the programme over the years. The freeze on funding could severely undermine efforts to combat the HIV epidemic in the country.
Get a premium automobile insurance coverage for your vehicle for as low as #15000 only and claim up to #3,000,000 in damages @Zenith Insurance To signup: WhatsApp/Call: +2349028313757
