FG hails US for approving emergency humanitarian waiver for HIV treatment

The Federal Government has commended the United States for approving an emergency humanitarian waiver that allows people living with HIV to continue accessing treatment funded by the US government across 55 countries, including Nigeria.

The US Department of State recently announced an executive order on an immediate 90-day funding pause for all foreign assistance, including for funding and services supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief– the world’s leading HIV initiative.

The executive order was one of the first major foreign policy decisions of the new administration.

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, on Wednesday, however, stated that the US government approved a waiver that allows people living with HIV to continue accessing treatment.

A statement signed by the Head, Public Relations and Protocol of the National Agency for the Control of AIDS, Toyin Aderibigbe, said, “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.

“The Nigerian government would intensify domestic resource mobilisation strategies towards ownership and sustainability of the HIV response in the country with a view to reducing the risks of donor aid policy shifts to the HIV response while ensuring that the country’s strategic goals and targets in the fight against HIV are achieved.

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

It said Nigeria has the highest number of people living with the Human Immunodeficiency Virus in the West and Central African region, and over the past two decades, partners in the global AIDS response have supported the government and institutions in the country to scale up prevention, treatment, care, and support for those living with and affected by HIV/AIDS.

“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,” it noted.

It encouraged patients to continue accessing HIV treatment services in service delivery points across the country.

It also appealed to state governors, private sector partners, members of the National Assembly, state Houses of Assembly, civil society organisations, the media, and stakeholders to continue in their commitment and support to the fight against HIV/AIDS in Nigeria.