COMMUNITY PHARMACISTS LEAD FRESH CALL FOR LOCAL HIV SOLUTIONS AS FUNDING LANDSCAPE SHIFTS

Nigeria’s commemoration of World HIV Day on December 1st, 2025, came with a renewed call for national self-reliance as the Association of Community Pharmacists of Nigeria (ACPN) urged the Federal Government to invest decisively in local manufacturing of HIV drugs and commodities. The ACPN National Chairman, Pharm. Ambrose Igwekamma Ezeh, emphasized that recent reductions in external funding particularly from the United States, signal an urgent need for Nigeria to fortify its’ HIV response through homegrown solutions.

This year’s theme, Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response, underscored the changing global landscape, where shrinking international support demands stronger domestic financing, smarter coordination and innovations tailored to local realities. Ezeh highlighted the resilience that has historically defined Nigeria’s HIV response but warned that geopolitical shifts and donor uncertainties require a fresh, more sustainable strategy.

Current national statistics paint a sobering picture with an estimated 1,400 new HIV infections and 50,000 AIDS-related deaths each week and about 1.9 million Nigerians living with HIV. Against this backdrop, the ACPN outlined three priority actions for resetting the country’s HIV trajectory. The first is the adoption of long-acting injectable antiretrovirals, which promise better adherence and reduced pill fatigue. The second is a deeper integration of community pharmacists into the national HIV architecture, recognizing their frontline role in testing, counselling and treatment continuity. The third and most strategic is a bold push for local manufacturing of HIV commodities to safeguard the nation from disruptions tied to global supply chains and donor cycles.

The ACPN’s message framed this World HIV Day as both a moment of reflection and an invitation to action. With community pharmacists positioned as key partners in national health delivery, the association reaffirmed its commitment to sustaining progress, strengthening health systems and championing locally driven innovation that can secure Nigeria’s HIV response for the future.