The U.S. under President Donald Trump has paused funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), causing alarm for HIV/AIDS efforts worldwide.
Since 2003, PEPFAR has contributed over $85 billion to combat HIV/AIDS, saving millions of lives in over 50 countries, including Nigeria, which received more than $6 billion for its HIV/AIDS programs.
Despite this support, recent reductions in funding have raised concerns about Nigeria’s ability to continue its progress.
A source at the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria noted that the Nigerian government has yet to fully take over HIV and malaria programs, leading to decreased American assistance.
This funding freeze, affecting both new and ongoing HIV/AIDS initiatives, could have severe consequences for the more than 1 million Nigerians who depend on PEPFAR for life-saving treatment, Guardian reports.
With U.S. support already diminishing, experts fear the ongoing pause will worsen the situation, threatening the health of many.
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