WHO Warns Nigeria Could Run Out of HIV Treatments Soon
US aid cuts have shut Benue HIV clinics, with WHO warning of millions of new infections and deaths globally.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has identified Nigeria as one of eight countries at imminent risk of depleting their HIV treatment supplies. This alarming situation stems from significant reductions in U.S. foreign aid, particularly impacting the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Since January 2025, the cessation of PEPFAR funding has led to the indefinite closure of HIV clinics serving key populations in Benue State. Organizations like RURCHEDI, which cater to affected individuals have been unable to provide essential services, including ART refills, PrEP, and PEP. This disruption threatens to undo years of progress in HIV care and prevention.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus warned that these disruptions could lead to over 10 million new HIV cases and three million related deaths globally. The funding cuts not only affect HIV programs but also jeopardize efforts against other diseases like polio, malaria, and tuberculosis.
Health experts and advocates are urging the U.S. government to restore funding promptly to prevent a global health crisis. Without swift action, the progress made over the past two decades in combating HIV/AIDS is at significant risk of reversal.
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