The National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, MAW, has called for urgent Federal Government investment in the local production of HIV medicines and commodities, warning that Nigeria’s progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS is now at risk due to shrinking foreign donor support.
In a statement issued on Monday to commemorate World HIV Day 2025, themed “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” Ezeh said Nigeria must immediately reduce its heavy reliance on external funding to prevent disruptions in treatment and prevention services.
“The recent cut in funding support from the United States Government should awaken the Federal Government of Nigeria to take decisive action,” he said, stressing that only strong domestic financing and policy commitment can sustain the national HIV response.
Ezeh noted that although Nigeria has demonstrated resilience through innovation, partnerships and advocacy, the changing global funding landscape demands a bold rethink.
“Today’s funding uncertainties require Nigeria to rethink, rebuild, and rise with renewed strategies grounded in evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and multi-sectoral collaboration,” he said.
The ACPN chairman highlighted worrying national data, including 1,400 new HIV infections and 50,000 AIDS-related deaths weekly in 2023, adding that an estimated 1.9 million Nigerians are currently living with HIV.
To prevent reversal of hard-won gains, Ezeh recommended three urgent policy actions:
He urged the Federal Government to approve Cabotegravir 600 mg and Rilpivirine 900 mg for eligible patients, saying long-acting injectables would ease pill burden, improve adherence, and significantly enhance treatment outcomes.
Ezeh stressed that community pharmacists already play key roles in HIV counselling, testing, and ARV refills. Expanding their involvement, he said, would improve case finding, ensure treatment continuity, and enhance national data accuracy—particularly critical as global funding declines.
He made a direct appeal for investment in domestic production of antiretrovirals, diagnostic kits and other essential commodities to reduce donor dependence, ensure uninterrupted supply, and strengthen the health system.
Expressing solidarity with people living with HIV, Ezeh urged all stakeholders to renew their commitment to ending the epidemic.
“As we mark World HIV Day, the Association extends warm solidarity to all people living with HIV and appreciation to every stakeholder committed to ending this epidemic. May today inspire renewed, transformative action,” he said.
The ACPN maintained that as external support continues to shrink, scaling up local manufacturing and integrating community pharmacists into the national HIV framework must become top priorities to safeguard treatment continuity and build long-term health system resilience.
