Eight nations—six located in Africa, which include Nigeria, Kenya, and Lesotho—are at risk of facing shortages of HIV medications after the U.S. government decided to halt international funding, according to statements from the World Health Organization (WHO).
On his inaugural day in January, US President Donald Trump declared a halt to this aspect of federal expenditures as part of an assessment into governmental financial outlays.
"Interruptions to HIV programs might reverse 20 years of advancements," cautioned Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the head of WHO.
He further mentioned that it could result in over 10 million extra HIV cases along with an additional three million HIV-related fatalities. This figure, he noted, would be "more than tripling the death toll from the previous year."
According to Dr. Tedros during a press conference on Monday, Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali — along with Haiti and Ukraine — would exhaust their life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) medications within the next few months.
Trump’s executive order paused foreign aid support for an initial duration of 90 days in line with his “America First” foreign policy.
This issue has impacted global health programs, significantly hindering the delivery of essential medical supplies such as HIV medications worldwide.
Most of the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAID) programs have now been discontinued.
Even though a waiver was granted in February for the United States' pioneering HIV program, its operations have been significantly affected.
Referred to as the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), this initiative depends on logistical assistance provided by USAID and various organizations affected by the unrest.
Dr. Tedros stated that this situation has resulted in "the immediate cessation of HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services in over 50 nations."
Introduced in 2003, Pepfar has made it possible for millions of individuals from some of the world’s most impoverished communities to receive antiretroviral treatment. It is estimated that this program has helped save over 26 million lives globally.
In his initial days as president, Trump declared that the U.S. would withdraw from the WHO, which impacted the organization's funding for worldwide health initiatives.
"The U.S. administration has shown remarkable generosity for many years. Of course, it retains the right to determine what it chooses to support and to what degree," Dr. Tedros stated.
“However, the US also bears the duty to make sure that if it cuts off direct funding to countries, this process is carried out in an organized and compassionate manner, allowing these nations to seek alternate means of financing.”
Approximately 25 million individuals reside with HIV in Sub-Saharan Africa, constituting over two-thirds of the worldwide total of 38 million people affected by this condition.
In Nigeria, approximately two million individuals are affected by HIV, with numerous people depending on medication provided through aid funding.
According to World Health Organization statistics, Kenya ranks as the country with the seventh-highest population of individuals living with HIV, totaling approximately 1.4 million people.
"We urge the United States to reassess its stance on supporting global health initiatives. These efforts do more than just save lives globally; they enhance U.S. security by stopping potential outbreaks before they can spread across borders," stated Dr. Tedros.
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