Abia Health Workers Raise Alarm Over Rising HIV Cases

• Speaking at a workshop for health leaders, the stakeholders warned that the resurgence could spiral out of control, as many patients can no longer afford treatment.

Health workers in Abia State have raised concern over a spike in HIV/AIDS cases, blaming it on former U.S. President Donald Trump’s anti-aid policy, which led to cuts in USAID funding that previously subsidised HIV treatment globally.

Speaking at a workshop for health leaders, the stakeholders warned that the resurgence could spiral out of control, as many patients can no longer afford treatment.

They urged swift local interventions and timely delivery of donor-provided healthcare products, noting that some medications are now arriving dangerously close to expiry.

” HIV/AIDS is now on the increase. Most of the patients are out of their drugs because of the Trump’s policy which affected supplies by our donor agency – USAID. You know that once a HIV/AIDS patient is on drug, the vital load will be surpressed.

So, we need to re-strategise and come up with action plan before it gets out of control. There is also need for increased sensitisation and awareness about this. Trump’s wave has swept the USAID off. So, we need to fill up the gap.” the stakeholders said