The US has approved an emergency waiver to continue funding HIV treatment in 55 countries, including Nigeria, after a temporary aid suspension. UNAIDS welcomed the move, ensuring life-saving medication remains available. Nigeria’s NACA urged stronger domestic funding to reduce reliance on foreign aid and achieve HIV eradication by 2030.
The U.S. government has granted an emergency waiver allowing continued HIV treatment aid for 55 countries, including Nigeria. This decision comes after a temporary freeze in U.S. funding under an executive order related to foreign assistance. The U.S. President had ordered a suspension of funds from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a vital program that supports millions of people living with HIV globally.
PEPFAR’s support in Nigeria is significant, with the initiative providing treatment for over 20 million individuals worldwide, including 566,000 children under the age of 15. However, the freeze threatened to disrupt this critical support, raising concerns among health agencies and the affected communities.
Following pressure from health organizations, the U.S. government approved the waiver, which allows uninterrupted access to treatment. UNAIDS commended the decision, emphasizing the vital role of PEPFAR in global HIV response efforts. The agency hailed the waiver as a positive move for those relying on life-saving medication, particularly in countries like Nigeria.
In Nigeria, Toyin Aderibigbe, spokesperson for the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), expressed gratitude for the waiver. However, Aderibigbe stressed the importance of developing local solutions to safeguard the country’s HIV programs from future policy shifts. She urged continued efforts for resource mobilization and better policy advocacy to sustain the country’s HIV response, to end the epidemic by 2030.
