Devex: Uncertainty over PEPFAR support prompts concerns from HIV advocates in Nigeria
“…Nigeria is key to maintaining control of Africa’s epidemic. But total PEPFAR funding for the country … has dipped … [I]n September 2017, PEPFAR unveiled a new strategy, which identified 13 focus countries where it will accelerate efforts to achieve epidemic control. Nigeria was not among them. … Nigeria wasn’t made a focus country largely because PEPFAR doesn’t understand the breadth and depth of the epidemic, making it difficult to respond equitably, [U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Deborah Birx, who leads PEPFAR,] said. To better understand the challenges, PEPFAR, along with the Nigerian government, is conducting a $125 million survey to define the epidemiology of HIV in the country, Birx told Devex. … Compounding concerns over PEPFAR funding is the fact that while the initiative was designed to work in tandem with the government, many HIV leaders and implementers say Abuja’s commitment has been insufficient…” (Rotinwa, 7/12).