The Federal Government has commended the United States for approving an emergency humanitarian waiver that ensures uninterrupted HIV treatment funding across 55 countries, including Nigeria......CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>.....CLICK HERE TO CONTINUE READING>>>
The waiver follows an executive order by the U.S. Department of State, which imposed a 90-day pause on all foreign assistance, including funding from the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The waiver, announced by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Wednesday, ensures that individuals living with HIV/AIDS will continue receiving treatment despite the temporary suspension of broader U.S. foreign aid commitments.
In a statement, Toyin Aderibigbe, Head of Public Relations and Protocol at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), expressed appreciation for the exemption while highlighting the need for Nigeria to intensify domestic funding strategies for HIV response.
“The Nigerian government appreciates the U.S. government waiver and is mindful of the potential change to foreign aid in the near future under the new administration.
“The Nigerian government would intensify domestic resource mobilisation 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.”
Nigeria has the highest number of people living with HIV in the West and Central African region, with PEPFAR funding covering approximately 90% of HIV treatment costs in the country. Over the past two decades, global health partners have supported Nigeria’s efforts to expand HIV prevention, treatment, care, and support services.
“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 per cent of the treatment burden.”
Despite the waiver, Nigeria’s government is urging state governors, private sector players, lawmakers, civil society organizations, and the media to sustain their commitment to eradicating HIV/AIDS and strengthening local funding efforts.
With the global goal to end AIDS by 2030, Nigeria aims to reduce its dependence on foreign donors while ensuring that HIV patients continue to access life-saving treatments across service delivery points nationwide.