A Nigerian medical expert, Dr. Chinonso Egemba, widely known as Aproko Doctor on social media, has sounded the alarm over the country’s fragile healthcare system following the reported suspension of U.S. funding for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
In a post on X (formerly Twitter) on Tuesday, Egemba cautioned that Nigeria cannot afford to depend on foreign donations for its healthcare needs, emphasizing the urgent need for a sustainable, homegrown solution.
“With the pause in U.S. foreign aid, we may see a surge in HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria infections,” he warned.
Egemba highlighted the devastating impact of the funding cut, particularly on people living with HIV, as antiretroviral drugs—crucial for suppressing the virus and preventing transmission—are largely donor-funded.
“If HIV is left untreated, almost all affected individuals will progress to AIDS,” he explained. “With PEPFAR funding halted, Nigeria faces a crisis that could cost countless lives.”
He stressed that without immediate government intervention, the country could see a spike in new HIV infections—already estimated at nearly 200,000 annually—along with increased fatalities due to a lack of life-saving medications.
Beyond HIV, Egemba warned that the funding cut would have a domino effect on other diseases like tuberculosis and malaria, pushing Nigeria’s already struggling healthcare system to the brink of collapse.
“Our health sector is already overwhelmed. This could be the breaking point,” he cautioned. “This is just the beginning of a ripple effect, and if we don’t act now, the consequences will be severe.”
Egemba urged Nigerian authorities to prioritize local solutions and invest in a sustainable healthcare system, warning that reliance on foreign aid is no longer viable.
“The best time to fix our health system was yesterday. The second-best time is now.”
