NewsNigeriaPoliticsFG Lauds US Emergency Waiver for HIV Treatment in Nigeria

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The Federal Government has commended the United States for approving an emergency humanitarian waiver that ensures people living with HIV in Nigeria and 54 other countries continue receiving treatment funded by the US government.

The US State Department recently announced a 90-day pause on foreign assistance, including funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) programmes, as part of an assessment of US foreign policy priorities. However, the waiver allows essential humanitarian aid, including HIV treatment, to continue.

A statement by the Head of Public Relations and Protocol at the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), Toyin Aderibigbe, expressed Nigeria’s appreciation for the waiver.

“The Nigerian government appreciates the U.S. government waiver and is mindful of the potential change to foreign aid in the near future under the new administration,” Aderibigbe said.

The statement emphasised that the Nigerian government would strengthen domestic resource mobilisation to sustain its HIV response and reduce dependence on donor funding.

“Nigeria can still achieve the target of ending AIDS by 2030 through effective stakeholder collaboration, creating favourable policies, enabling an environment, and advocacy to policymakers,” it added.

Nigeria has the highest number of people living with HIV in the West and Central African region, with an estimated two million people affected. Over the past two decades, global partners have supported Nigeria’s efforts in prevention, treatment, and care.

“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 per cent of the treatment burden,” the statement noted.

NACA encouraged people living with HIV to continue accessing treatment at designated health facilities and urged state governors, private sector partners, lawmakers, civil society organisations, and the media to sustain their support in combating HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.

Meanwhile, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has welcomed the US government’s decision, stating that the waiver will allow over 20 million people worldwide, including those in Nigeria, to continue receiving life-saving HIV medication.

“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,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima.

UNAIDS noted its commitment to mobilising partners and governments to mitigate the impact of the pause on HIV services and urged the US government to prioritise its leadership in the global fight against AIDS.

“UNAIDS will continue efforts to ensure that all people living with or affected by HIV are served and that other key components of PEPFAR’s life-saving efforts, including service delivery and services for HIV prevention, care, and support for orphans and vulnerable children are continued,” a press statement by the organisation stated.

By Ezinwanne Onwuka (Senior Reporter)

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