The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms about the potential consequences of a halt in foreign aid, initiated by US President Donald Trump, which is severely affecting access to HIV medication in various countries including Nigeria and Kenya. This drastic decision follows Trump’s executive order that paused foreign aid support for an initial 90 days as part of his ‘America First’ policy.
According to WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, eight countries, six of which are in Africa — Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali, along with Haiti and Ukraine — may soon run out of live-saving anti-retroviral medications (ARV) in the upcoming months. Tedros warned during a press conference that disruptions to HIV programs could set back 20 years of progress, potentially leading to more than 10 million additional cases and three million HIV-related deaths, numbers which exceed last year’s mortality figures threefold.
Trump’s administration, reflecting an isolationist stance, halted critical health programs like the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar), which has been foundational in combatting the HIV epidemic since its inception in 2003. Pepfar has been responsible for providing millions with access to life-saving treatments and is known for saving over 26 million lives globally. However, with the recent freeze, logistical support from the US Agency for International Development (USAID) required for Pepfar’s operations has been diminished.
This lack of funding is jeopardizing the HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services in more than 50 countries, as Dr Tedros highlighted. The freeze on aid also includes a significant withdrawal from the World Health Organization, which has raised concerns regarding global health security and outbreaks.
Countries like Nigeria, where nearly two million people are living with HIV, heavily depend on aid for their medicine supplies and healthcare support. Similarly, Kenya’s population of approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV is now in jeopardy of losing access to necessary treatments due to Trump’s executive actions.
In light of the dire situation, Tedros urged the United States to reconsider its stance on global health support. He emphasized that American aid not only saves lives but is also a strategic investment in global health security, preventing outbreaks that could spread internationally. The future of millions now hangs in the balance as the ripple effects of Trump’s policies take hold around the world.