US Grants Emergency Humanitarian Waiver for HIV Treatment in 55 Countries, Including Nigeria

The United States government has approved an emergency humanitarian waiver to allow continued US-funded HIV treatment in 55 countries, including Nigeria.

Upon assuming office, US President Donald Trump signed an executive order that halted foreign aid funding, affecting HIV treatment in developing nations.

As a result, the US Department of State paused disbursements from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which provides treatment for over 20 million HIV-positive individuals globally, including 566,000 children under 15.

However, on Wednesday, January 29, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) announced that the US government had granted a waiver, ensuring continued treatment for individuals living with HIV.

A statement from UNAIDS read:

“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 recognizes PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”

In reaction to the waiver, Toyin Aderibigbe, spokesperson for Nigeria’s National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), expressed gratitude to the US government. However, she emphasized that Nigeria must prepare for potential shifts in foreign aid policy under future administrations.

According to Aderibigbe:

• The Nigerian government will intensify domestic resource mobilization to ensure ownership and sustainability of its HIV response.
• This will help reduce dependence on donor aid while working towards achieving the country’s strategic HIV targets.
• Through stakeholder collaboration, policy advocacy, and an enabling environment, Nigeria aims to end AIDS by 2030.

The US government, through PEPFAR, has been a major contributor to Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS treatment programs, covering approximately 90% of the treatment burden in the country.