The Donald Trump-led administration has suspended the HIV treatment funding in Africa and developing countries worldwide for at least 90 days.
The decision was taken following President Trump’s executive order on foreign aid, which directs all government divisions with foreign development assistance programs to stop disbursing funds to countries and organizations until they can be reviewed.
That includes the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, known as Pepfar, a $7.5 billion program overseen by the State Department, officials were told in a memo on Wednesday obtained by The New York Times.
The officials, in a separate directive, were informed that although the initial review of foreign aid is intended to be completed within 85 days, final decisions might take up to 180 days.
Since its inception, it has saved an estimated 26 million lives. However, in response to the suspension, the US State Department stated, “The United States is no longer going to blindly dole out money with no return for the American people.”
Impact on Nigeria
Nigeria has one of the highest HIV burdens in the world, with approximately two million people living with the virus.
Many of these individuals rely on PEPFAR for essential treatments and healthcare support. According to Premium Times, the program has contributed over $6 billion to Nigeria’s national HIV/AIDS efforts over the years.
The potential suspension or termination of PEPFAR could severely impact Nigeria’s ongoing fight against HIV/AIDS, jeopardizing both treatment access and healthcare infrastructure.