A recent decision by the US government to freeze foreign aid has put at risk the lives of millions of people living with HIV in eight countries, including six in Africa. Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali are among the nations that could soon run out of vital antiretroviral (ARV) medicines due to a pause in US foreign aid, according to the World Health Organization (WHO).
The freeze, which was enacted by President Donald Trump on his first day in office in January 2017, was part of a broader review of government spending under his “America First” foreign policy. The WHO has issued a dire warning that disruptions to HIV programs in these countries could reverse two decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that the ongoing aid freeze could lead to more than 10 million additional cases of HIV and an estimated 3 million more HIV-related deaths — a number more than three times greater than the number of deaths attributed to the disease in the previous year.
In addition to the African nations, Haiti and Ukraine are also facing a severe shortage of ARV medicines in the coming months. The US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which was launched in 2003 and has been pivotal in providing life-saving HIV treatment in some of the world’s poorest regions, is among the most affected programs. PEPFAR has been credited with saving over 26 million lives globally but now faces significant challenges in continuing its work.
The suspension of foreign aid has caused widespread disruptions to health programs across more than 50 countries, leading to a halt in HIV treatment, testing, and prevention efforts. This has left vulnerable populations, especially in sub-Saharan Africa, at greater risk of the disease. The WHO’s Dr. Tedros expressed concern over the long-term effects, stating that the US’s decision to pause aid has significantly harmed international efforts to curb the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The freeze on foreign aid also impacts the US Agency for International Development (USAID), which plays a crucial role in supporting PEPFAR and other health initiatives worldwide. While a waiver was issued in February for the US HIV program, logistical support from USAID and other organizations severely impacted by the freeze has hampered the ability to deliver medical supplies to the affected countries.
According to WHO data, sub-Saharan Africa accounts for more than two-thirds of the global HIV population, with an estimated 25 million people living with the virus. Nigeria alone has nearly 2 million people living with HIV, many of whom rely on aid-funded ARV medicines for survival. Kenya, with about 1.4 million people living with HIV, has the seventh-largest HIV burden in the world.
Dr. Tedros urged the US to reconsider its decision, highlighting the importance of continued support for global health initiatives. “The US has a responsibility to ensure that if it withdraws direct funding for countries, it’s done in an orderly and humane way that allows them to find alternative sources of funding,” he stated. He further emphasized that US investment in global health not only saves lives but also benefits the US by preventing the spread of infectious diseases beyond borders.
The WHO’s call comes amid growing international concern over the future of HIV/AIDS treatment programs and the potential reversal of years of progress made in combating the epidemic in Africa and other parts of the world. As the crisis continues to unfold, global health advocates are calling for urgent action to ensure that vulnerable populations do not face even greater health and human rights challenges in the wake of the US aid freeze.
