The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over the potential exhaustion of HIV treatment supplies in eight countries, including Nigeria, following disruptions caused by the U.S. government’s suspension of foreign aid.
According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Ghebreyesus, the funding freeze imposed by former U.S. President Donald Trump has “substantially disrupted” critical HIV treatment programs. Nations at immediate risk include Nigeria, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine, Ghebreyesus stated in a press briefing, as reported by Reuters.
“The disruptions to HIV programs could undo 20 years of progress,” Ghebreyesus warned, adding that the setback could result in over 10 million new HIV cases and three million HIV-related deaths worldwide.
Beyond HIV, the funding halt has impacted global efforts against polio, malaria, and tuberculosis. WHO also cautioned that the Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network—comprising over 700 sites—faces an imminent shutdown, just as measles resurges in the United States.
Ghebreyesus emphasized that the United States 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.”
The funding crisis extends beyond HIV programs, threatening essential healthcare services in Afghanistan, where WHO estimates that 80% of its supported facilities could shut down. Already, 167 health centers have closed due to financial constraints, with over 220 more at risk of shutting down by June.
Additionally, WHO’s reliance on U.S. contributions—typically accounting for nearly 20% of its annual funding—has forced the organization to implement hiring freezes and budget cuts. In response to the financial strain, WHO announced plans to reduce its emergency operations funding target from $1.2 billion to $872 million for the 2026-2027 budget period.
The looming crisis underscores the fragility of global health programs dependent on foreign aid, raising urgent concerns about the future of disease control efforts worldwide.
