|
LISTEN TO THIS THE AFRICANA VOICE ARTICLE NOW
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
The World Health Organization (WHO) Monday, March 17, 2025, issued a warning that at least eight countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Lesotho, are on the brink of running out of life-saving HIV drugs. This crisis comes as a direct consequence of the US government’s decision to halt foreign aid funding, a move that has disrupted global health programs and jeopardized millions of lives.
WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, speaking at a press conference on Monday, cautioned that the sudden withdrawal of support threatens to undo two decades of progress in the fight against HIV. He painted a grim picture, estimating that the disruption could lead to over 10 million new HIV infections and three million HIV-related deaths in the coming years.
“The impact of these disruptions will be catastrophic. We are at risk of losing all the progress we have made in combating HIV,” Dr. Tedros warned. “This crisis could triple the number of HIV-related deaths compared to last year.”
The crisis stems from an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on his first day in office in January, which paused all foreign aid funding for 90 days as part of a government spending review. This decision, made under Trump’s “America First” policy, has thrown key health programs into turmoil, leaving millions of HIV-positive individuals at risk of treatment disruptions.
Among the affected nations are Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali in Africa, as well as Haiti and Ukraine. These countries heavily depend on US-funded health initiatives, particularly the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has been a lifeline for millions battling HIV since its launch in 2003.
PEPFAR, credited with saving over 26 million lives worldwide, provides free or subsidized antiretroviral (ARV) drugs, essential for managing HIV and preventing transmission. However, with the US aid freeze cutting off logistical support, shipments of ARV drugs have stalled, and health facilities in over 50 countries have already halted HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services.
Sub-Saharan Africa remains the hardest hit by the HIV epidemic, with 25 million people; more than two-thirds of the global total of 38 million, living with the virus. Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa, has nearly two million HIV-positive individuals, many of whom depend on donor-funded medications. Meanwhile, Kenya, home to around 1.4 million people living with HIV, has the seventh-highest HIV burden globally. Further, Lesotho, a small southern African nation, has one of the highest HIV prevalence rates in the world.
Without immediate intervention, these nations face a sharp increase in HIV transmission and AIDS-related deaths. Experts warn that interrupted treatment could lead to drug resistance, making future HIV management even more challenging and costly.
Trump’s executive order has not only frozen funding for PEPFAR but has also significantly affected the operations of the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which provides critical logistical support for global health initiatives.
In February, a limited waiver was issued to allow PEPFAR to continue, but it has failed to address the wider impact on the supply chain and healthcare infrastructure. Trump also announced plans to withdraw the US from WHO, cutting off another key source of international health funding.
“The US has been extremely generous in global health funding over the years,” Dr. Tedros acknowledged. “But if it decides to withdraw its support, it must ensure a humane and orderly transition that allows affected countries to find alternative funding sources.”
The global health community has strongly criticized the US aid freeze, urging Washington to reconsider its decision. Public health advocates warn that the move could have far-reaching consequences, not just for HIV patients but also for global disease prevention efforts.
Dr. Tedros emphasized that global health security is interconnected, noting that cutting support for disease control programs in developing countries ultimately threatens health security in the US and beyond.
“We urge the US administration to reconsider its stance,” he said. “Supporting global health saves lives worldwide and helps prevent outbreaks from spreading internationally.”
LEAVE A COMMENT
You must be logged in to post a comment.