…Blame Trump’s Anti-Aid Policy
Stephen Ukandu, Umuahia
Health workers in Abia State have raised alarm over the recent upsurge in HIV/AIDS cases, attributing the disturbing trend to the withdrawal of funding by former U.S. President Donald Trump to the United States Agency for International Development (USAID).
The health workers and other key stakeholders made their concerns known during a four-day workshop for health leaders and managers in the state.
They noted that the USAID had, over the years, played a crucial role in subsidizing HIV/AIDS medications, especially in Africa and other low-income countries. However, the disruption in funding has severely impacted the supply of life-saving drugs, putting the lives of many patients at risk.
“Most of the patients are now off their medication due to shortages caused by Trump’s policies, which affected supplies from our donor agency, USAID,” one of the participants said. “Once a HIV/AIDS patient discontinues medication, the viral load can no longer be suppressed. This is dangerous.”
They warned that if urgent local interventions were not initiated, the state could face a resurgence of the epidemic.
“There is a need to re-strategize and develop a robust action plan before things get out of hand,” a stakeholder added. “Sensitization and awareness campaigns must be intensified to address this looming threat. Trump’s wave has swept USAID funding away, and now we must find ways to fill the gap.”
The stakeholders also expressed frustration over the late delivery of healthcare products by donor agencies, noting that some items were sent close to their expiration dates.
“How can you send us products in July that will expire in September?” one participant queried.
The workshop, organized by the Federal Ministry of Health under the Nigeria Health Sector Renewal Investment Initiative (NHSRII), brought together Primary Health Secretaries from all 17 Local Government Areas in Abia, along with civil society organizations active in the health sector.
Abia State Commissioner for Health, Professor Enoch Ogbonnaya Uche, said the workshop aimed to design a detailed operational framework for the Ministry’s activities in 2026.
“We want to ensure that every health activity is properly planned and budgeted for to meet the expectations of this administration,” he said. “Our goal is to plan to succeed.”
Prof. Uche reaffirmed the Otti-led administration’s commitment to strengthening healthcare delivery, describing it as one of the government’s top priorities.
In her remarks, Dr. Carol Iwuoha, who represented the State Coordinator of the World Health Organization (WHO), Dr. Jibrin Alkasim, reiterated the WHO’s commitment to supporting Abia’s health initiatives. She emphasized the need for continuous capacity building for health workers to enhance service delivery.
Also speaking, Dr. Chidinma Ejepu of the Federal Ministry of Health said the workshop was part of a national strategy to help states develop their annual operational plans in alignment with the national health sector blueprint.
“This operational plan is being developed across all states based on our strategic health sector framework. The goal is to save lives and reduce physical and financial burdens,” she said.
The stakeholders concluded by reaffirming their collective commitment to enhancing healthcare delivery across Abia State.
