{
  "id": 13975136,
  "title": "Benue to Sustain HIV Care for 197,000 Patients As Donor Funding Declines",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/12/benue-to-sustain-hiv-care-for-197-000-patients-as-donor-funding",
  "topic": "health",
  "section": "Health & Medicine",
  "published": "2026-10-12T12:58:05.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Daily Trust",
    "slug": "daily-trust",
    "url": "https://dailytrust.com/benue-moves-to-sustain-hiv-care-for-197000-patients-as-donor-funding-declines/"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "Benue State is at risk of losing HIV/AIDS care for 197,000 patients due to a decrease in donor funding for APIN Public Health Initiatives. To address this, the state government has formed a seven-member technical team to devise a sustainability plan. The team, led by Dr Paul Ogwuche, will identify funding gaps, prioritize interventions, and create a costed action plan to ensure continuous access to essential healthcare services.\n\nSecretary to the State Government, Barr. Deborah Aber, announced the team's formation during a review meeting in Makurdi. The team will consist of representatives from various state and health agencies, including the Ministry of Health and Human Services, Ministry of Finance, and APIN. Aber emphasized the need to strengthen domestic financing, integrate successful interventions into government systems, and protect essential services from funding disruptions.\n\nAPIN has been instrumental in providing HIV/AIDS care to over 197,000 people in Benue through antiretroviral drugs and other interventions. However, the decline in funding has prompted the state to take on a greater role in sustaining the programme and protecting the achievements made. The State Programme Lead of APIN, Enebi Achimogu, highlighted the organization's efforts in expanding access to HIV treatment and care, financed by the United States Government.\n\nAchimogu urged the government to implement the Benue State Health Insurance Scheme, which could reduce the financial burden of medical treatment for residents. Health Commissioner Ogwuche praised APIN and other partners for their impact on the lives of people living with HIV in the state and stressed the importance of collaboration between the government and development partners to prevent disruptions to HIV treatment and care.",
  "summary": "At least 197,000 people receiving HIV/AIDS care in Benue State face funding uncertainty following a decline in international donor support for APIN Public Health Initiatives, prompting the state government to set up a seven-member technical team to develop a sustainability plan. The team, chaired by the Commissioner for Health and Human Services, Dr Paul Ogwuche, […]",
  "key_points": [],
  "editors_take": null,
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 1,
    "also_reported_by": []
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}