Nigeria: Some Nigerians Turn to Faith Healers As HIV Aid Dries Up
[Premium Times] After US aid cuts disrupted free HIV treatment, some Nigerian patients turn to unproven 'cures'.
After US funding for HIV/AIDS treatment was cut, some Nigerians are turning to unproven faith-based cures. A patient named Aisha once received free antiretroviral therapy (ART) through the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) program, but the funding was halted in 2025. Unable to afford expensive unregulated alternatives, she has now sought help from traditional healers who claim to offer a permanent cure through herbal remedies.
These practitioners, often operating within religious contexts, market their products citing Islamic teachings, claiming that God created no disease without also creating its cure. However, modern medical experts emphasize that there is currently no cure for HIV, as ART only suppresses the virus's replication, not eliminating it entirely.
As these unregulated alternatives fail to provide the necessary suppression of the virus, patients like Aisha face worsening health conditions and mounting financial burdens.
Written by urgent.news from AllAfrica's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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