By Ashiat Aliu

The National Chairman of the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN), Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, MAW, has called on the Federal Government to prioritise local manufacturing of HIV drugs and related commodities, warning that Nigeria’s growing dependence on foreign donors poses a threat to the country’s HIV response.

Ezeh made the call in a statement on Monday to mark World HIV Day, themed “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response.” He said the recent cut in funding support from the United States Government should serve as a wake-up call for Nigeria to strengthen domestic financing for HIV/AIDS services.

He cautioned that Nigeria risks major setbacks if urgent steps are not taken to reduce reliance on external partners.
“The recent cut in funding support from the United States Government should awaken the Federal Government of Nigeria to take decisive action,” he said. “Increased local investment and policy commitment are essential to preventing major setbacks in HIV services nationwide.”

Ezeh noted that while the national HIV response has remained resilient over the years, the current global funding uncertainties demand fresh strategies.
“The HIV response has historically been characterised by resilience, rising above challenges through innovation, partnerships, and persistent advocacy,” he said. “However, today’s shifting geopolitical landscape and funding uncertainties demand that Nigeria rethinks, rebuilds, and rises with renewed strategies grounded in evidence-based policymaking, innovation, and multi-sectoral collaboration.”

He highlighted troubling statistics indicating the scale of the challenge, noting that in 2023 Nigeria recorded an estimated 1,400 new HIV infections and 50,000 AIDS-related deaths each week, with 1.9 million Nigerians currently living with HIV.

To strengthen the national response, the ACPN chairman outlined three key recommendations.
First, he urged the Federal Government to adopt long-acting injectable antiretroviral regimens, including Cabotegravir 600 mg and Rilpivirine 900 mg, which he said would ease pill burden for patients and improve adherence due to longer dosing intervals.

Second, Ezeh called for deeper integration of community pharmacists into HIV testing, counselling, and treatment services. He noted that community pharmacists already support thousands of patients with ARV refills and counselling, adding that leveraging their nationwide presence would improve case identification, treatment continuity, and national data reporting.

Finally, he emphasised the urgent need for local manufacturing of HIV commodities, including antiretrovirals, diagnostic kits, and consumables. He said domestic production is critical to ensuring sustainability, reducing external dependency, and safeguarding uninterrupted service delivery.

“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,” he said. “May today serve as a reminder of our collective responsibility and as inspiration for renewed, transformative action.”

The ACPN statement positions community pharmacists as key actors in sustaining Nigeria’s HIV response amid shrinking donor support, and identifies local manufacturing as a strategic priority to protect treatment continuity and strengthen health system resilience.