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How Much Will The PEPFAR Freeze Affect People Living with HIV? Nigerians Discuss 

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The current U.S. government, under the leadership of Donald Trump, has decided to freeze funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program launched in 2003 under former President George W. Bush’s administration that has saved millions of lives worldwide. This decision, announced as part of a broader review of foreign assistance programs, has raised concerns, particularly in African countries where millions rely on PEPFAR for HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention.

The move has triggered mixed reactions among Nigerians. Some argue that this is a wake-up call for African governments to stop relying on foreign aid and start taking responsibility for their own healthcare systems. There’s growing frustration over why essential programs like HIV treatment have depended so much on external funding, especially when political leaders are living lavishly while ordinary citizens suffer.

Others, however, fear the consequences of this funding freeze. Many are worried that without PEPFAR’s support, thousands of Nigerians living with HIV may lose access to life-saving medication, which could lead to increased transmission rates and a potential public health crisis.

See how Nigerians are reacting to the freeze below:

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