Only last year, the United States has contributed $ 3.7 billion to humanitarian aid to the southern Saharan countries. At least 73 % of these are dedicated to health programs, including HIV treatment and prevention. For those living with HIV, much of the budget has been achieved through the President’s emergency plan to help AIDS – or Pepfar, which purchase and supply HIV drugs for the needy countries. Since the launch of the former US president, George W. Bush has rescued millions of people in Africa more than two decades ago.
Before Pepfar, HIV often meant the death penalty in Africa. Today, many viruses are able to live a normal life thanks to the drugs they are distributed. Rescue programs have also allowed sub -field countries to make vital progress in HIV epidemic by recording infection, improving testing and reducing maternal transmission to the child.
In fact, many countries in Africa, including Nigeria, intend to control the HIV epidemic and approach the “95-95-95” global goals-where 95 % of people with HIV have been diagnosed. They get 95 % of the diagnosed people with antiviral treatment, and 95 % of people who receive antiviral treatment will suppress viral, while the patient has no HIV and effectively. It is free from the risk of virus transmission.
Now, given the life of Pepfar, which is apparently going, public health workers are concerned that these gains will be reversible. “If the entire budget stops after 90 days of ice, we will have almost a health care system, because the Nigerian government alone will not be able to provide services,” ISAH says.
In 2021, Iz and colleagues published a study of the desire of people living with HIV in Nigeria to pay out of pocket. This study shows that while many of the saving importance of life in their treatment and therefore want to pay for it, the cost of the drug is a major obstacle to doing so.
One month of the general version of Truvada, the drug used to treat HIV as well as protect against infection before and after exposure costs about $ 60 a month. Most importantly, there are regular laboratory costs to check the viral load, immune system health, and kidney conditions of the liver and heart that can be caused by infection. For low -income countries in Africa, this is a big challenge: at least 41 percent of the population of South Saharan Africa lives less than $ 1.90 a day. The minimum wage in Nigeria is $ 40 a month.
By showing readiness to connect the budget gap, the Nigerian government voted for $ 4.8 billion ($ 3.2 million) earlier this week to release 150,000 HIV medical kits. But although it is a good sign for a short -term, it is nowhere to be close to what to maintain the HIV program and prevent the country in the event of a long -term harvesting of Washington.
If the US budget is stable after a 90 -day pause, many people with HIV in Africa will probably won’t be able to constantly be able to take on the pockets of the drugs and laboratory tests they need. “When one has a complete drug and the person gets an incomprehensible viral burden, it means that one cannot transmit the virus,” Iz. “But if they do not lose their treatment and medications, the viral burden can increase again and endanger their families and loved ones.”
