Amid PEPFAR’s recent funding cuts, which have already led to sharp declines in prevention programmes such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for at-risk individuals, the Oyo State House of Assembly has called for urgent government intervention to avert a potential HIV/AIDS crisis in the state.
At its Thursday plenary, the House debated a motion titled “Need for Urgent State Intervention in HIV/AIDS Treatment, Care, and Support in Oyo State Following Withdrawal of PEPFAR Support,” sponsored by Hon. Mrs. Comforter Olajide (Ibadan North I).
The motion highlighted the risk that thousands of residents living with HIV/AIDS could lose access to lifesaving treatment and support following the withdrawal of U.S. funding under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
According to the motion, more than 550 ad-hoc workers employed by the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) to support antiretroviral therapy (ART) delivery were recently disengaged due to the funding cuts.
Lawmakers warned that this could trigger widespread service disruptions, drug shortages, treatment default, and increased viral resistance among patients. They further cautioned that failure to act could result in higher HIV transmission rates, preventable deaths, and growing pressure on the state’s healthcare system.
The Assembly urged the Ministry of Health, the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), and the Oyo State Primary Health Care Board to assess treatment gaps, design a state-funded HIV/AIDS intervention strategy, and re-engage the disengaged personnel through state resources or partnerships.
It also called for collaboration with donor agencies, NGOs, and private investors to sustain support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The House directed its Committee on Health to convene key stakeholders to review the situation and propose sustainable solutions.
Additionally, lawmakers advocated for dedicated budgetary provisions or special funding windows to ensure uninterrupted HIV/AIDS care and prevention services across the state.
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