Friday, January 31, 2025 - The United States government has approved an “emergency humanitarian waiver” to support US-funded HIV treatment in 55 countries, including Nigeria.
Upon his assumption into office, US President Donald Trump, ordered a
funding pause for HIV treatment in developing countries as part of an executive
order on foreign aid.
As a result, the US department of state suspended the disbursement of
funds from the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR) that
provides HIV treatment for more than 20 million people living with the disease
in Nigeria and globally, including 566,000 children under 15 years of age.
However, the joint United Nations programme on HIV/AIDS in a statement
released on Wednesday, January 29, said the US government has approved a waiver
that allows people living with HIV to continue accessing treatment.
“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the US government which ensures that
millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV
medication during the assessment of US foreign development assistance.
This urgent decision recognises PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS
response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”
Reacting to the development, Toyin Aderibigbe, the spokesperson of the
National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), said Nigeria appreciates the US
government’s waiver and is mindful of the potential change to foreign aid soon
under the new administration.
A statement released by Aderibigbe reads
“The Nigerian government would intensify domestic resource mobilisation
strategies towards ownership and sustainability of the HIV response in the
country with a view to reducing the risks of donor aid policy shifts to the HIV
response while ensuring that the country’s strategic goals and targets in the
fight against HIV are achieved.
Through effective stakeholder collaboration, creating favourable
policies, and enabling environment and advocacy to policymakers, Nigeria can
still achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030.
The US government, through PEPFAR, has immensely supported Nigeria’s
HIV/AIDS response over the years, particularly in sustaining the treatment of
people living with HIV in Nigeria.
PEPFAR Nigeria remains the biggest donor for treatment programmes in the
country, as their contributions cover approximately 90 percent of the treatment
burden.”
0 Comments