Funding reductions by the United States government have significantly impacted Nigeria’s HIV response, creating acute shortages of HIV test kits in public hospitals and clinics nationwide.
Despite the Federal Government’s assurances of increased domestic funding and its pledge to eliminate AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, testing shortages persist.
For Danladi Adamu, a person living with HIV for over 25 years in Bauchi State, the announcement on January 20, 2025, that the US had paused foreign aid was a devastating blow.
“The announcement brought a lot of psychological trauma. Many of us rushed to treatment centers, hoping to stock up on medicines,” he recounted.
While antiretroviral drugs (ARTs) remain largely available, the supply of HIV test kits has been inconsistent.
Bauchi State NEPWHAN coordinator Abdullahi Ibrahim confirmed that test kits ran out in November 2025, hampering community testing efforts and slowing progress toward the 95-95-95 global target.
“If we can’t test, many people remain unaware of their status, and the virus spreads more easily,” he said.
The scarcity is not limited to the North-East. In the South-East, Enugu and Anambra States report limited availability of test kits.
Amaka Adindu, a PLHIV in Anambra, said that while drug supplies stabilized after an initial crisis, test kits remain scarce.
Similarly, Rivers State has seen reduced community testing due to kit shortages, and the FCT faces gaps in second- and third-line drugs along with testing kits.
Experts emphasize that testing is the entry point to HIV care.
Dr. Dan Onwujekwe, a TB/HIV specialist, said, “Without test kits, we cannot identify infected individuals or provide timely treatment, which could increase transmission and drug resistance.”
The funding crisis stems from cuts to the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has supported HIV testing, treatment, and community programs in Nigeria for decades.
According to UNAIDS, the halt threatens millions of lives globally and risks reversing gains made in HIV control.
In response, the Nigerian government, through NACA, has approved a $200 million intervention fund and launched initiatives to boost domestic production of ARVs and diagnostic kits.
However, shortages persist in many regions, particularly affecting pediatric HIV care, second- and third-line ARTs, and community outreach services.
While Lagos State has maintained drug and test kit availability, other states continue to grapple with gaps in both testing and treatment services.
Health experts warn that continued reliance on foreign donors without robust local manufacturing of drugs and test kits leaves Nigeria vulnerable.
Prof. Lawrence Ogbonnaya of Ebonyi State University stressed the urgency of domestic solutions: “It is high time Nigeria produces its own test kits and drugs. Dependence on imported supplies is no longer sustainable. We risk losing the gains made over decades if this continues.”
Efforts to get comments from NACA’s Director-General were unsuccessful, as Dr. Temitope Ilori is currently abroad.
