Expert Warns as US Aid Pause Threatens HIV/AIDS Gains in Nigeria
The suspension of United States foreign aid for HIV/AIDS programs could reverse decades of progress and expose Nigeria to a renewed epidemic, a leading health expert has warned.
Dr. Nandul Durfa, Managing Director of the Reach Care Foundation, raised the alarm on Sunday in Abuja following the termination of funding agreements for several health organizations in the country.
The cuts come in the wake of a new “America First” policy directive by the Donald Trump administration, which has paused foreign aid to review its efficiency and alignment with US interests.
Durfa’s comments were in response to a letter from the Institute of Human Virology, Nigeria (IHVN), announcing the immediate termination of contracts with partner organizations.
The letter, signed by IHVN CEO Dr. Patrick Dakum, cited “prevailing funding constraints” as the reason for the drastic measure.
“With the collapse of its funding base, the virology institute has stopped funding all HIV/AIDS services, a situation that has thrown the caregivers into confusion,” Durfa told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN).
He noted that the Reach Care Foundation alone caters to over 500 patients who now face uncertainty. “These people shall come, and we have to tell them to go back as we are helpless… We may have to run because the scourge will build up. The victims could get violent out of frustration.”
Durfa, a former Chief Medical Director of the University of Abuja Teaching Hospital, recalled the “gory days” of the disease some 20 years ago when thousands of lives were lost annually.
He credited US aid, particularly through USAID, with helping Nigeria reduce HIV incidence to near zero.
“But with the decision to stop the funding, the outcome is obvious – Nigeria will relapse to a worse epidemic later if no urgent measure is taken by the Federal Government,” he warned.
He expressed particular concern for the youth demographic. “Young boys, those less than 20 years, never experienced the HIV/AIDS scourge… If you stop the funding without killing the virus, the existing virus will develop resistance. Even if funds come later, a lot of ground would have been lost.”
The crisis stems from an executive order signed by US President Donald Trump on January 26, 2025, which paused foreign aid to ensure it makes America “safer, stronger, and more prosperous,” according to US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. The policy has led to the dismantling of key USAID structures and the suspension of numerous aid projects globally.
Durfa urged the Federal Government to step in immediately to fill the funding gap, particularly for the procurement of Anti-Retroviral Drugs (ARVs).
“The government must provide enough funds… otherwise, we are sitting on a time bomb,” he said.
He also highlighted the risk of losing gains in preventing mother-to-child transmission, warning that “consequences will be dire” if drugs become unavailable.
“Nobody is talking about HIV/AIDS now because it has been subdued, but if there is a sudden halt in the funding, the resurgence will wash away the achievements. We shouldn’t allow that.”
