Aproko Doctor Warns: Nigeria Faces Health Crisis as US Halts AIDS Relief Funding
LAGOS, NIGERIA – A looming healthcare crisis threatens Nigeria as the United States has paused funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), prompting a dire warning from prominent Nigerian physician Dr. Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor.
In a Tuesday post on X, Dr. Egemba underscored Nigeria’s dangerous dependence on foreign aid for healthcare, particularly in its fight against HIV. He cautioned that the funding freeze could trigger a resurgence of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria, diseases already plaguing the nation.
Dr. Egemba highlighted the critical role of PEPFAR in supplying antiretroviral drugs, essential for suppressing HIV and preventing its transmission. “If you don’t treat HIV, almost everyone affected will develop AIDS,” he explained, emphasizing the life-saving nature of these medications. With the PEPFAR funding now on hold, the doctor fears a critical drug shortage. “If Nigeria doesn’t rise to the occasion and take charge, infections will rise – currently close to 200,000 new infections every year. People will die from AIDS because drugs are not available,” he warned.
Beyond HIV, Dr. Egemba noted that the funding pause will also impact programs addressing tuberculosis and malaria, further straining Nigeria’s already overburdened healthcare system. He described the potential consequences as “make or break” for the nation’s health infrastructure. Dr. Egemba called for immediate government action to address the funding gap and prioritize investment in domestic healthcare resources, stressing that Nigeria can no longer afford to rely on donations for its citizens’ health.
, prompting a dire warning from prominent Nigerian physician Dr. Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor.){kind=link}