The Oyo State House of Assembly has called for urgent government action to cushion the effects of the withdrawal of U.S. funding under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), warning that thousands of residents living with HIV/AIDS could lose access to lifesaving treatment and support.
During its Thursday plenary, the Assembly deliberated on 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 outlined the potential public health crisis and urged the state government to act swiftly to maintain antiretroviral therapy (ART) services and protect vulnerable citizens.
According to the motion, more than 550 ad-hoc workers previously engaged by the AIDS Prevention Initiative in Nigeria (APIN) to support ART delivery were recently laid off following the funding suspension. Lawmakers warned that the development could result in service disruptions, shortages of drugs, treatment defaults, and increased viral resistance among patients.
The Assembly expressed deep concern that a lack of intervention could escalate HIV transmission rates, cause preventable deaths, strain the state’s healthcare facilities, and erode public trust in health institutions.
It urged the executive arm, particularly the Ministry of Health, the Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), and the State Primary Health Care Board, to identify and fill treatment gaps, develop a state-funded HIV/AIDS response plan, and re-engage the disengaged personnel using state resources or new partnerships.
The lawmakers further recommended collaboration with donor organizations, NGOs, and private sector partners to sustain support for people living with HIV/AIDS (PLHIV). The House Health Committee was also directed to convene stakeholders to assess the situation and propose lasting solutions.
In addition, the Assembly advocated for special budgetary provisions to ensure uninterrupted access to HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention services across the state.
Nigeria is among the countries hardest hit by PEPFAR’s recent funding reductions, which have already caused a significant decline in prevention initiatives such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for at-risk populations.
