USAID Shutdown Threatens HIV Treatment in Africa

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Millions of lives are at risk in Africa as the shutdown of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) halts critical HIV research and treatment programs in Nigeria and Uganda, according to various health officials. AbulMumini Isah, a senior lecturer at the University of Nigeria, noted that an ongoing field study aimed at improving HIV care in Northern Nigeria has been interrupted due to a USAID stop-work order instituted by President Trump.

Despite a recent emergency waiver exempting some humanitarian aid, many clinics supported by USAID remain closed. In Nigeria, over two million people living with HIV rely on aid for antiretroviral therapy, leading to fears that essential medication supplies will dwindle. In Uganda, more than 200 staff at the Infectious Disease Institute are on administrative leave while HIV prevention projects are stalled, impacting broader health services.

The implications are severe; health workers warn of a potential collapse of healthcare systems if U.S. funding is permanently withdrawn after the 90-day pause. “The government of Nigeria alone will not be able to provide the services needed,” Isah stated, highlighting the critical need for PEPFAR funding that has historically supported HIV treatment efforts.

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