The World Health Organization (WHO) has expressed worries about a potential shortage of HIV medications in Nigeria and seven additional countries, cautioning that millions may be endangered if supplies deplete in the upcoming months.
The Director-General of WHO, Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, linked the crisis to the halt of U.S. foreign aid, remarking, “The interruption in funding threatens the battle against HIV. If we do not act promptly, we could face a severe resurgence of the epidemic.”
Nigeria, together with Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine, is at risk of significant treatment gaps that could undo years of advancement.
WHO estimates suggest that the deficiency could result in more than 10 million new HIV cases and three million associated deaths.
The funding halt introduced by U.S. President Donald Trump in January has impacted worldwide initiatives to combat polio, malaria, and tuberculosis. Health specialists are concerned that without finding new sources of funding, at-risk communities in the affected nations will suffer the most from the situation.
