Nigeria: Deprived of American aid, volunteers mobilize to save HIV patients

In Nigeria, volunteers had to step in to keep HIV patients alive after a sharp reduction in aid from the United States.

The freeze on this aid in 2025 has severely disrupted access to antiretroviral treatments, essential for millions of people living with the virus. In response, local volunteers have organized themselves to conduct door-to-door visits in rural areas to distribute medication and provide follow-up care for patients.

In the particularly hard-hit state of Benue, these volunteers travelled long distances to reach isolated villages, often without significant logistical resources.

Their action prevented a massive interruption of treatments, which could have led to a resurgence of deaths and infections.

This mobilization highlights the crucial role of community networks in fragile health systems, particularly in times of crisis.

Since then, a new agreement has been reached between the United States and Nigeria to revive funding for the fight against HIV, offering hope for stabilizing the situation.

However, this episode highlights the dependence of many countries on international funding to provide vital care, and the major risks in the event of a sudden withdrawal of this aid.

Despite these difficulties, the commitment of volunteers made it possible to temporarily fill the gaps in the system, illustrating essential solidarity in the face of the health emergency.