- World Health Organisation (WHO) warned funding cuts on Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) programs could set back global progress
- Over 30 million people relied on the HIV treatment fund with Nigeria’s 1.9 million at direct risk
- WHO urged the US to provide exemptions to ensure continued access to life-saving HIV care
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a stark warning regarding the potential consequences of suspending funding for Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) programs in Nigeria and other low- and middle-income countries.
The funding, which was part of the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), was a cornerstone of the global fight against Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) and has been in place for over two decades.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, expressed concern over the impact of the funding cut, stating that it could severely disrupt HIV programs that currently provide treatment to over 30 million people worldwide.
WHO warns about funding cut implications
In a statement, Dr Tedros emphasised that halting funding could increase the risk of illness and death among people living with HIV, as well as impede efforts to curb the virus’s spread in vulnerable communities.
“WHO expresses deep concern about the implications of the immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries. These programmes provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide.
“A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries.
“Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America,” the statement read in part.
WHO urges US administration to implement exemptions
He warned that the suspension could reverse years of progress, potentially leading to a rise in new infections and deaths, and even pushing the world back to the early days of the epidemic, when millions died annually, including many in the US.
WHO further cautioned that the freeze would have a direct, devastating impact on millions who rely on regular access to antiretroviral treatment (ART).
The organisation called on the US Administration to introduce additional exemptions to ensure that essential HIV treatments and care continue to reach affected populations.
In Nigeria, more than 1.9 million people currently depend on ART, emphasising the importance of sustained funding for these life-saving programs.
PEPFAR, which aims to end HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, has played a key role in Nigeria’s efforts to meet the “95-95-95” targets, focused on diagnosing, treating, and maintaining treatment for those living with HIV.
Since its launch in 2003, PEPFAR has invested over $7.8 billion in Nigeria to strengthen the health system and improve access to HIV treatments.
“For the global community, this could result in significant setbacks to progress in partnerships and investments in scientific advances that have been the cornerstone of good public health programming, including innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines, and community delivery models of HIV care.
“We call on the Government of the United States of America to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care,” Tedros stated.
WHO expresses regret as Trump announces US withdrawal on first day back in office
Meanwhile, TheRadar earlier reported that President Donald Trump issued an executive order to withdraw the United States from the World Health Organisation (WHO) on his first day back in office.
Subsequently, WHO expressed regret, and called for constructive dialogue to address the decision.