On Monday, March 17, the World Health Organization (WHO) named Nigeria as one of the eight nations that will soon run out of HIV treatment supplies.
The Trump administration’s decision to suspend U.S. foreign aid “substantially disrupted” the countries’ supply of HIV treatments, which is why this is happening.
According to Reuters, which cited WHO Director-General Tedros Ghebreyesus, the global health organization warned that in the upcoming months, Nigeria, Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, and Ukraine may run out of HIV treatments.
“The disruptions to HIV programs could undo 20 years of progress,” WHO Director-General Ghebreyesus was quoted to have said at a press conference.
Furthermore, the WHO said in a separate statement that a lack of funding may force the closure of 80% of Afghanistan’s vital health care services.
As of March 4, 167 healthcare facilities had closed due to a lack of funding; more than 220 facilities could close by June if nothing is done immediately.
Additionally, 80% of Afghanistan’s essential health care services may have to close due to a lack of funding, the WHO said in a separate statement.
As of March 4, 167 healthcare facilities had closed due to a lack of funding; more than 220 facilities could close by June if nothing is done immediately.
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,” Ghebreyesus said on Monday.
According to a separate statement from the WHO, funding shortages may also force the closure of 80% of Afghanistan’s vital health care services.
Due to a lack of funding, 167 healthcare facilities had closed as of March 4; if nothing is done quickly, over 220 more facilities may close by June.
The UN organization, which normally receives around a fifth of its total yearly funding from the U.S., has also been forced to freeze hiring and start budget cuts as a result of the United States’ plans to leave the WHO.
The World Health Organization announced Monday that it will reduce its emergency operations funding goal from $1.2 billion to $872 million for the 2026–2027 fiscal year.
