Nigeria Moves to Locally Produce HIV Drugs as U.S. Aid Suspension Raises Alarm

The Nigerian government has announced its intention to start the domestic production of HIV test kits and antiretroviral drugs before the end of 2025, a decision which comes in the midst of increasing concerns concerning the sustainability of HIV treatment programs after the suspension of the ‘American foreign help by President Donald Trump.

The decision, which affected funding through the American Agency for International Development (USAID), has explained millions of beneficiaries in Nigeria and other African countries at the risk of spreading HIV.

At the forefront of this initiative is the National Agency for AIDS Control (NACA), whose director general, Temitope Ilori, revealed the plan to Ilorini, in the state of Kwara, during the weekend -End. Speaking during the inauguration of the transmission of prevention from mother to child (PMTCT) and the pediatric art acceleration committee, Ilori said that Nigeria must take decisive measures to reduce its dependence Using foreign aid and ensuring uninterrupted access to HIV treatments.

Ilori pointed out that the national production of medical supplies related to HIV was a crucial element of wider government efforts to eliminate aid as a public health threat by 2030. Suspending USAID support from certain global health programs had sent shock waves to beneficiary countries, including Nigeria.

For years, NIGIRA HIV / AIDS intervention programs largely depend on international funding, donor organizations offering antiretroviral therapy (art), test kits and prevention services. However, when Trump interrupted the funding of the United States for international health initiatives, countries like Nigeria had to face the imminent threat of treatment disturbances. The lack of funding has raised fears of drug shortages, prevention programs status and an overall increase in HIV transmission rates.

The decision to establish the local production of HIV processing options is considered a direct response to these vulnerabilities. Ilori stressed that, despite the existing interventions on HIV, Nigeria is still late in the coverage of pediatric HIV, the remaining mother-child transmission rates. According to the 2023 UNIDA report, around 140,000 Nigerian children aged 0 to 14 live with HIV, with 22,000 new infections and 15,000 AIDS deaths occurring each year. Despite global efforts to combat the epidemic, the PMTCT and the coverage of pediatric HIV remain less than 33%, a figure far from the target of 95%.

The inability to achieve these objectives has been attributed to inadequate national funding, dependence on support for donors and shortcomings in the implementation of the program. Even if international organizations and the world alliance have committed financial resources in the fight against AIDS, Ilori admitted that coverage remains sub-optimal, stressing the need for sustainable development initiatives led by the government.

The Nigeria HIV burden also varies considerably depending on the region, certain local governments recorded higher prevalence rates than others. In the state of Kwara, the prevalence rate of HIV is 0.8%, which is lower than the national average of 1.4%. However, women remain disproportionately affected, with a prevalence rate of 1.3% against 0.4% in men. Ilori noted that, even if these figures show progress, they remain unacceptable and called for targeted interventions in areas with a strong increase.

“The realization of a generation without AIDS is at hand, and no child should be born HIV positive in the state of Kwara,” said Illori. It urged all partners to support the government in the development of a complete list of children born to HIV positive parents, a critical step to ensure national access to pediatric art.

Beyond Kwara, the federal government has intensified efforts to locate HIV treatment programs. The Minister of State for Health and Social Welfare, Iziaq Salako, recently created a national acceleration committee to supervise the expansion of HIV prevention and treatment strategies. The committee model is now reproduced at the state level, allowing real -time monitoring and better coordination of the program.

However, the biggest challenge remains the financial sustainability of the Nigeria HIV program. The sudden suspension of foreign aid, although partially reversed in recent years, has served as a awakening, exposing the dangers of the statement on external donors. Ilori has revealed that in recent days, she had received many calls expressing concerns about the implications of the 90 -day foreign help suspension of Trump, in particular the response to Nigeria HIV.

“In the past few days, I have received numerous calls concerning the implications of the 90 -day foreign aid suspension on our HIV program. Although we are relieved that HIV services remain exempt, this situation highlights the need for sustainability efforts led by the government, “she said.

The decision to produce HIV test kits and locally antiretroviral drugs should reduce costs, reduce dependence on volatile donor funding and ensure that HIV -positive individuals have access without interruption to treatment. Experts, however, warn that success will depend on the government’s ability to invest in pharmaceutical manufacturing, to apply strict quality control measures and to strengthen the management of the supply chain.

With more than 1.9 million Nigerians currently living with HIV, the propagation potential is high. If it is successfully implemented, this initiative could position Nigeria as a leader in the fight against Africa against HIV / AIDS, providing a plan for other nations struggling with similar funding challenges.

However, health experts note that achieving this objective will require a strong political commitment, an increase in financial investments and a continuous commitment to stakeholders to ensure that the response to the country’s HIV remains effective, even in the face of donor uncertainty .