An “emergency humanitarian waiver” has been authorized by the US government to facilitate US-funded HIV treatment in 55 nations, including Nigeria.
As part of an executive order on foreign aid, US President Donald Trump imposed a funding stop for HIV treatment in developing nations when he took office.
Because of this, the US Department of State halted the distribution of monies from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which treats more than 20 million HIV-positive individuals worldwide, including 566,000 children under the age of 15.
However, in a statement issued on Wednesday, January 29, the joint United Nations program on HIV/AIDS stated that the United States government has granted a waiver that permits individuals living with HIV to continue receiving treatment.
“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the US government which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV medication during the assessment of US foreign development assistance.
“This urgent decision recognises PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”
The National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA) spokesperson, Toyin Aderibigbe, responded to the news by saying that Nigeria is grateful for the US government’s waiver and is aware that the incoming administration may soon make changes to foreign aid.
According to an Aderibigbe statement, “The Nigerian government would intensify domestic resource mobilization strategies towards ownership and sustainability of the HIV response in the country with a view to reducing the risks of donor aid policy shifts to the HIV response while ensuring that the country’s strategic goals and targets in the fight against HIV are achieved.
“Through effective stakeholder collaboration, creating favourable policies, and enabling environment and advocacy to policymakers, Nigeria can still achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030.
The US government, through PEPFAR, has immensely supported Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response over the years, particularly in sustaining the treatment of people living with HIV in Nigeria.
PEPFAR Nigeria remains the biggest donor for treatment programmes in the country, as their contributions cover approximately 90 percent of the treatment burden.”