The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a stark warning that Nigeria, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine are at risk of severe HIV drug shortages due to disruptions caused by the United States’ decision to halt foreign aid. WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus sounded the alarm during a press conference on Monday, stating that this setback could threaten millions of lives and reverse two decades of progress in combating HIV.
Ghebreyesus emphasized that the halt in foreign aid could result in over 10 million new HIV cases and three million additional deaths, with the broader impacts extending to critical health programs tackling polio, malaria, tuberculosis, and HIV. He stressed that these disruptions risk undoing significant global health gains made over the past 20 years.
The United States’ foreign aid freeze, which began under former President Donald Trump’s administration, has severely affected healthcare efforts in affected countries. In response to this, Nigeria’s federal government has vowed to bolster its domestic HIV response, including a $1.07 billion investment approved on February 3rd to fund healthcare sector reforms. In addition, the Nigerian Senate allocated N300 billion ($200 million) in the 2025 budget to support key health programs, including HIV, TB, malaria, and polio.
However, the WHO also highlighted the far-reaching consequences for tuberculosis (TB) programs, noting that 27 countries in Africa and Asia are facing major disruptions. Shortages of healthcare workers, diagnostic tools, and failing data systems are exacerbating the crisis. Nine countries have already reported serious problems with the procurement and supply of TB drugs, putting millions of lives at risk.
“US support for TB services has saved nearly 80 million lives over the past two decades, but this progress is now in jeopardy,” Ghebreyesus warned.
Adding to the global health concerns, the WHO’s Global Measles and Rubella Laboratory Network, which operates in over 700 locations worldwide, is also facing imminent shutdown due to the aid cuts. Ghebreyesus urged the US to ensure that any reductions in direct funding are carried out in a manner that allows affected countries to find alternative sources of support, emphasizing that global health efforts must remain a priority.
The situation remains dire, and global health experts are calling for urgent action to prevent further harm to vulnerable populations worldwide.
