Last year alone, the US Provided $3.7 billion in humanitarian assistance To sub-Saharan Africa. At least 73% of this was assigned to health programs that include HIV treatment and prevention. For those living in HIV, much of the profits from this fund came through the president’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, or through the Pepfer, which purchases and supplies HIV drugs for countries in need. Since it was launched by former US President George W. Bush more than 20 years ago, Pepfer has saved millions of lives in Africa.
Before Pepfer, HIV often meant an African death sentence. Today, many people live with the virus, thanks to the medicines distributed through it, and they can live a normal life. The aid programme has also enabled sub-Saharan countries to make important advances in including the HIV epidemic, with improved infection record rates, improved testing, and reduced transmission to mothers and children.
In fact, many African countries, including Nigeria, are Cusp It is controlling the HIV epidemic and is approaching the global “95-95-95” goal. 95% of people living with HIV are diagnosed, 95% of those diagnosed receive antiretroviral therapy, and 95% of those receiving antiretroviral therapy achieve viral suppression. , if the patient does not have detectable HIV and is virtually free of risk of communicating the virus.
Now, with Pepfer’s lifeline looking to look, public health workers are worried that these benefits will be reversed. “The Nigerian government alone cannot provide the services it needs, so if all funds are stopped after a 90-day freeze, the health care system will almost collapse,” Isah said.
Isa and his colleagues published study In 2021, we will pay for treatment from pockets for the willingness of people living with HIV in Nigeria. This study found that while many people are willing to pay because they recognize the life-saving importance of maintaining treatment, they are willing to pay, but that the cost of medicine is a major barrier to them. did.
Truvada is a drug used to protect against infections both before and after treatment of HIV for a month and before and after exposure to Truvada. cost Approximately $60 per month. In addition to this, there is the cost of regular clinical tests to check viral load, immune system health, and liver and heart kidney conditions and conditions that can be caused by infection. For low-income countries in Africa, this is a major challenge. At least 41% of sub-Saharan Africa’s population Less life Over $1.90 per day. The national minimum wage in Nigeria is $40 a month.
Nigerian government shows its ready to close the funding gap vote Earlier this week, 4.8 billion naira ($3.2 million) was released to raise 150,000 HIV treatment kits. But, while a good sign in the short term, in the case of a long-term withdrawal of support from Washington, there is nowhere near what is needed to maintain the country’s HIV treatment and prevention program.
If US funding freezes remained after a 90-day suspension, many people living with HIV in Africa are unable to consistently pay from pocket for the medications and clinical tests they need. It may be. “If someone takes the drug completely and the person achieves an undetectable viral load, that means that they cannot transmit the virus,” says Isa. “However, if they miss treatment and medication, the viral load could increase again, leading to a risk for family and loved ones.”