The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that eight countries, including Nigeria, Kenya, and Lesotho, could soon face severe shortages of HIV medication following the US government’s decision to pause foreign aid.
WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus cautioned that disruptions to HIV treatment programs could reverse two decades of progress, potentially leading to over 10 million new HIV infections and three million related deaths—more than triple last year’s toll.
The affected nations—Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, and Mali, along with Haiti and Ukraine—are at risk of running out of life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs in the coming months.
Impact of US Aid Suspension
The crisis stems from an executive order issued by US President Donald Trump on his first day in office in January, which paused foreign aid for 90 days as part of a government spending review. The move disrupted global health programs, including shipments of critical medical supplies such as HIV medication.
Among the most affected initiatives is the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has provided life-saving HIV treatment, testing, and prevention services in more than 50 countries since its launch in 2003. The program, credited with saving over 26 million lives, has been severely impacted due to its reliance on logistical support from the now-halted US Agency for International Development (USAID).
Despite a waiver issued in February allowing PEPFAR to continue, the ongoing aid freeze has left its operations struggling. WHO estimates that sub-Saharan Africa, home to nearly 25 million people living with HIV—more than two-thirds of the global total of 38 million—will be the hardest hit.
Urgent Calls for US to Reconsider
In Nigeria, where nearly two million people rely on donor-funded HIV treatment, the looming drug shortage poses a severe health risk. Kenya, home to approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV, is also among the worst-affected nations.
Dr. Tedros acknowledged the US’s longstanding contributions to global health but urged Washington to ensure that any withdrawal of direct funding is done in a way that allows affected countries to secure alternative financial support.
“We ask the US to reconsider its support for global health,” he said. “This not only saves lives worldwide but also helps prevent the spread of outbreaks beyond borders, making the US safer as well.”