Nigeria, 7 Other Countries Face HIV Treatment Shortage Amid Trump’s Aid Suspension
The World Health Organization (WHO) announced on Monday that Nigeria is among eight countries at risk of facing a severe shortage of HIV treatments due to the U.S. decision to suspend foreign aid under the Trump administration.
WHO highlighted that the suspension of U.S. aid has “significantly disrupted” the supply of essential HIV treatments in the affected nations, including Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine. These countries could run out of HIV treatments in the coming months, WHO reported.
Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, WHO’s Director-General, warned that these disruptions could reverse 20 years of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. He further stated that the shortages could lead to more than 10 million new HIV cases and result in 3 million additional HIV-related deaths.
The suspension of U.S. aid, which includes support for HIV, polio, malaria, and tuberculosis programs, was implemented by President Trump after he took office in January. This decision has had far-reaching consequences on global health initiatives.
In addition to the HIV treatment shortages, WHO revealed that the U.S. funding cut also threatens the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which operates over 700 sites worldwide. The network is now facing imminent shutdown, even as measles outbreaks resurge in the U.S.
WHO’s Ghebreyesus urged the U.S. to ensure that its withdrawal of direct funding is managed in an orderly and humane manner, allowing countries to seek alternative sources of financial support. He also pointed out the grave impact on Afghanistan’s health services, as funding shortages have already led to the closure of 167 health facilities. Without urgent intervention, over 220 more facilities could shut down by June.
The WHO, which typically receives about a fifth of its annual funding from the U.S., has been forced to freeze hiring and initiate budget cuts in response to the reduced financial support. WHO announced plans to reduce its emergency operations budget for the 2026-2027 period, slashing its target from $1.2 billion to $872 million.
The ongoing cuts are putting the health of millions at risk and highlighting the broader consequences of funding reductions in global health programs.
