Nigeria’s healthcare faces a crisis as the U.S. halts PEPFAR funding, threatening HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria programs. Medical experts warn of increased preventable deaths and drug shortages. With health workers at risk of unemployment, stakeholders urge Nigeria to boost local funding to prevent a reversal of decades of medical progress.
Nigeria’s healthcare system is on the brink of a crisis following the U.S. government's decision to halt foreign aid, including funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). This move has sparked concerns about the country’s ability to sustain critical health programs, particularly those aimed at combating HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.
Dr. Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor, has warned that Nigeria cannot continue to depend on donations for its healthcare needs. In a post on X, he emphasized the urgent need for the government to take charge of its health system, cautioning that the funding suspension could lead to an increase in preventable diseases and deaths. “If you don’t treat HIV, almost everyone affected will develop AIDS,”
Egemba stated, highlighting the devastating impact of losing access to antiretroviral drugs. Nigeria currently records nearly 200,000 new HIV infections annually, and without PEPFAR support, the country could witness a surge in cases and fatalities. Beyond HIV, the cut in funding will also affect Nigeria’s fight against tuberculosis and malaria.
In 2023 alone, tuberculosis claimed 71,000 lives in Nigeria, and without U.S. aid, efforts to curb the disease could stall. Malaria, which remains a leading cause of death in the country, could also see a resurgence as essential programs lose financial backing. The broader implications of the aid suspension extend beyond healthcare.
Many Nigerian health professionals working with foreign-funded NGOs now face the risk of unemployment, further straining an already fragile system. Additionally, the disruption of medical supply chains could lead to drug shortages, making life-saving treatments inaccessible to millions of Nigerians.
The U.S. government’s decision, driven by its ‘America First’ agenda, has put numerous global aid programs on hold, affecting vulnerable populations worldwide. While Secretary of State Marco Rubio has announced temporary waivers for life-saving humanitarian aid, the uncertainty surrounding future funding leaves Nigeria in a precarious position.
