United States (US) government has approved an emergency humanitarian waiver to support US-funded HIV treatment in 55 countries, including Nigeria.
Gatekeepers News reports that President Donald Trump recently passed an executive order on funding pause for HIV treatment in developing countries.
The US Department of State hence suspended the disbursement of funds from the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief (PEPFAR).
The joint United Nations programme on HIVI AIDS in a statement on Wednesday, said the US government approved a waiver that allows people living with HIV to continue accessing treatment.
The statement reads, “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 recognises PEPFAR’S critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”
Reacting in a statement on Thursday, Toyin Aderibigbe, the spokesperson of National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), thanked the US government’s waiver adding that Nigeria is mindful of the potential change to foreign aid soon under the new administration.
The NACA official said, “The Nigerian government would intensify domestic resource mobilisation strategies towards ownership and sustainability of the HIV response in the country with a view to reducing the risks of donor aid policy shifts to the HIV response while ensuring that the country’s strategic goals and targets in the fight against HIV are achieved.”
“Through effective stakeholder collaboration, creating favourable policies, and enabling environment and advocacy to policymakers, Nigeria can still achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030.”
“The US government, through PEPFAR, has immensely supported Nigeria’s HIV/AIDS response over the years, particularly in sustaining the treatment of people living with HIV in Nigeria.”
“PEPFAR Nigeria remains the biggest donor for treatment programmes in the country, as their contributions cover approximately 90 percent of the treatment burden.”
