The WHO warns that Nigeria and seven other countries may face severe HIV treatment shortages due to U.S. aid suspension. Experts fear this could reverse decades of progress, leading to millions of new infections and deaths. Urgent action is needed to prevent a public health crisis.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over a looming crisis that could leave thousands of HIV patients in Nigeria and seven other countries without access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment. The warning comes as global health funding faces a major setback following the suspension of U.S. foreign aid under President Donald Trump’s administration.
WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus cautioned that this disruption threatens to erase two decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. According to him, the affected countries—Nigeria, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine—are at high risk of treatment shortages, which could trigger a surge in new infections and HIV-related deaths. WHO estimates that without immediate intervention, over 10 million new HIV cases and three million fatalities could occur.
Beyond HIV treatment, the aid suspension has also disrupted global efforts to combat other infectious diseases such as malaria, tuberculosis, and polio. Health experts fear that the ripple effects could overwhelm already strained healthcare systems in vulnerable nations, setting back years of medical advancements.
In Nigeria, health officials and advocacy groups are calling for urgent intervention from international donors and local authorities to prevent a public health catastrophe. With an estimated 1.9 million people living with HIV in the country, the stakes are high, and time is running out.
As the crisis unfolds, global health organizations are exploring alternative funding sources to bridge the gap. However, with no clear resolution in sight, millions of patients now face an uncertain future.
