The US government has suspended financial support for HIV treatment in Nigeria and other developing countries following an executive order signed by President Donald Trump on his first day in office.
The order, aimed at restructuring foreign aid, has led to the immediate halt of funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a critical program providing HIV treatment across Africa and other developing regions.
The US State Department confirmed that disbursements will be paused for at least 90 days, raising concerns about the potential impact on millions relying on the program for life-saving treatment. This decision marks a significant shift in US global health aid policy.
The order also instructed all government agencies managing foreign development assistance programs to halt the disbursement of funds.
The NPR reported that PEPFAR has stopped disbursing funding and is likely to suspend operations for at least three months if an exemption is not made for the program in the coming weeks.
With an annual budget of $6.5 billion, PEPFAR delivers HIV/AIDS treatment to more than 20.6 million people. It has helped save lives and curb the spread of the virus.