Nasarawa State Faces HIV Care Crisis Ahead of IHVN Staff Disengagement

Timescope news 

Nasarawa State’s HIV response is bracing for a major disruption as the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria (IHVN), a primary implementing partner supporting treatment and care services, prepares to disengage its Ad Hoc staff by the end of February 2026.

The move is a direct consequence of the U.S. Presidential Executive Order issued on January 20, 2025, which has triggered a significant transition in donor-funded health interventions across Nigeria. This shift has raised urgent questions about the sustainability of critical HIV services at the state level.

IHVN, established in 2004 as a Nigerian non-governmental organization affiliated with the University of Maryland School of Medicine, has become a cornerstone of the country’s public health response. Beyond its foundational work in HIV/AIDS prevention, treatment, and care, the organization has been instrumental in strengthening laboratory systems, training health workers, and expanding interventions for tuberculosis, malaria, and other diseases.

In Nasarawa, IHVN is the lead partner for HIV services, managing a substantial cohort of patients on antiretroviral therapy and providing essential frontline support, including clinical care and data management at health facilities across the state.

The imminent loss of this Ad Hoc workforce is set to create significant human resource gaps, threatening the stability of services. This pressing issue was the focus of a meeting on Thursday, 19 February 2026, when the Director General of the Nasarawa State AIDS Control Agency (NASACA), Dr. Ruth Bello, led the State Committee on HIV Response to brief the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Health, Dr. Ibrahim Adamu Alhassan.

Dr. Bello described the development as a "major challenge," emphasizing the deep integration of IHVN staff in service delivery. “IHVN’s extensive coverage across our facilities means their disengagement will have a significant impact on HIV service delivery in the state. We convened a committee meeting to strategize on how to manage the anticipated shock and ensure continuity of care for patients,” she said.

To mitigate the impact, the committee has begun advocacy with key health bodies, including the State Hospital Management Board, the Primary Health Care Development Agency (NSPHCDA), and the Federal University Teaching Hospital in Lafia. The goal is to facilitate the temporary absorption of affected staff while longer-term solutions are developed.

As an urgent interim measure, the committee is proposing to engage the personnel on a volunteer basis to ensure uninterrupted HIV prevention, treatment, and care services.

Responding, Dr. Alhassan acknowledged the looming threat to healthcare delivery. He noted that while a transition from donor support was anticipated, the current speed of change demands accelerated local planning. “In most of our secondary health facilities providing HIV services, IHVN-supported personnel play critical roles. If these staff disengage completely, the quality of care may be adversely affected. Retaining their expertise, even on an interim basis, is essential,” he stated. However, he also raised a concern that some affected staff might not meet the formal qualifications for civil service positions, complicating efforts to absorb them into the state's permanent workforce.

Amidst the workforce concerns, an IHVN representative provided reassurance on the supply chain, confirming there is no current disruption in the distribution of antiretroviral drugs and other HIV commodities. Additional shipments are expected in the first week of March 2026.

The State Committee on HIV Response is now finalizing an information memo with provisional recommendations to guide the state government's next steps. The situation underscores Nasarawa’s urgent need to bolster domestic ownership of its HIV programmes in the face of shifting global funding, all while striving to maintain uninterrupted access to life-saving treatment for people living with HIV.