Nigerians Turn to Traditional Healers as HIV Aid Declines

Aisha, an HIV patient in Maiduguri, Nigeria, relied on free antiretroviral therapy (ART) funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) until funding was halted in January 2025. Despite a partial resumption of PEPFAR activities in February 2025, significant budget cuts led to the closure of many HIV service sites globally.

As a result, Aisha and others are turning to unregulated alternatives marketed as “Islamic medicine.” Traditional healers like Yusuf Sufi and Abdullahi Umar claim their products can cure HIV, with prices ranging from N45,000 ($33) to N250,000 ($183). Medical professionals, including Abubakar Ibrahim from the University of Maiduguri Teaching Hospital, emphasize that there is no scientifically proven cure for HIV, warning against the dangers of abandoning effective ART for untested remedies.