US Funding Suspension: AHF, CSOs Push for Domestic Financing of HIV, TB Response … As NEPWHAN Calls for Domestication of Anti-Stigma, Discrimination Law

From Dooshima Terkura, Makurdi

In the wake of the suspension of US government funding for Africa’s health systems, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) and other Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) have renewed calls for increased domestic financing to sustain Nigeria’s fight against HIV and Tuberculosis (TB).

Similarly, the Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) has stressed the urgent need for state legislatures to domesticate the HIV anti-stigma and discrimination law.

These concerns were raised during the CSO Financing Dialogue held Tuesday in Abuja.

The dialogue recalled the Abuja Declaration of 2001, in which African Union member states pledged to allocate at least 15% of their national budgets to health, while developed nations committed to providing 0.7% of their Gross National Product (GNP) as Official Development Assistance (ODA). However, progress toward these targets has remained sluggish, with only a few African countries consistently meeting their commitments.

With the recent withdrawal of global donor support, participants urged Nigeria’s parliament to revisit strategies for implementing the Abuja Declaration locally.

National Coordinator of NEPWHAN, Abdul Kadir Ibrahim, emphasized that the US policy shift should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to identify and harness internal funding sources.

“Currently, about 80–85% of HIV funding comes from foreign aid, with the US government providing the largest share, alongside about 35% from the Global Fund and other partners. Nigeria’s contribution remains less than 15%. We need to explore internal resources and ensure that HIV response is integrated into the National Health Insurance Scheme,” he said.

He further stressed that the so-called “free drugs” supplied in Nigeria are funded by taxpayers from donor countries, making local investment in health more urgent.

Chairman of the House Committee on HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria, Hon. Godwin Ogah, described the dialogue as a crucial step towards generating actionable strategies for sustainable domestic financing and pushing for the domestication of the anti-stigma law.

“Nigeria requires an estimated $8 billion annually to sustain its HIV response. The suspension of US funding should serve as a blessing in disguise, compelling Nigeria to take the lead in financing public health responses rather than relying on foreign aid,” he said.

He noted that several innovative ideas for mobilizing domestic financing have already emerged, but stressed the need for a legislative framework to streamline and implement them effectively.

The UNAIDS representative in Nigeria, Dr. Murphy Akpu, highlighted that HIV challenges affect all aspects of human life and called for deliberate government action, including local drug production to close treatment gaps.

Also speaking, AHF Country Programme Director, Dr. Echey Ijezie, said the meeting provided a vital platform for stakeholders to recommend practical solutions, reaffirming AHF’s commitment to supporting partners in addressing HIV challenges in Nigeria.