The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns about a possible shortage of HIV medications in eight countries, including Nigeria, due to the U.S. government's decision to pause foreign aid under the Trump administration.

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According to the WHO, the funding freeze has severely impacted the supply of essential HIV drugs, putting millions of people at risk.

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The affected countries—Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Ukraine—could soon struggle to access life-saving treatments. The organization warned that this disruption could undo 20 years of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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“The disruptions to HIV programs could undo 20 years of progress,” WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned at a press conference.

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Shortly after taking office in January, President Donald Trump halted U.S. foreign aid, a move that has affected efforts to fight several diseases, including polio, malaria, and tuberculosis.

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The funding cuts have also put the WHO-led Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network in danger of shutting down. This network, which has over 700 sites worldwide, plays a crucial role in detecting and controlling measles outbreaks.

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https://www.youtube.com/shorts/LFxcthFcsmc

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The situation is especially concerning as measles cases are rising again in the United States.

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Dr. Ghebreyesus emphasized the need for a responsible approach to funding withdrawal, stating, “The United States has a responsibility to ensure that if it withdraws funding, it does so in an orderly and humane way that allows affected countries to find alternative resources.”

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The impact of the U.S. funding freeze goes beyond HIV treatment shortages. In Afghanistan, 167 health centers have already shut down due to lack of funds, and over 220 more could close by June unless urgent help arrives. The WHO warns that 80% of its essential healthcare programs in the country are now at risk.

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The situation has worsened with the U.S. withdrawing support from the WHO, an organization that used to receive about 20% of its budget from American contributions. As a result, the WHO has been forced to cut costs and freeze hiring.

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The Trump administration’s decision to reduce funding for international health programs was aimed at cutting administrative expenses. However, experts have raised serious concerns about the negative effects on global health efforts.

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This crisis highlights the importance of international funding in keeping healthcare systems running and stresses the need for new solutions to prevent a worldwide health emergency.

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