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US Aid Freeze Hits SA Health Programmes: NGOs Brace for Impact
Time to read: 01:26
Published:30January 2025
It's been a week of turmoil and tumult, but none of the events has been more contentious than US President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend all foreign development assistance for the next 90 days.
The decision has placed South African NGOs under immense strain. The move, part of his "America First" agenda, threatens crucial health programmes, including those funded by the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).
According to Business Day, a temporary waiver from US Secretary of State Marco Rubio may provide some relief for life-saving services, such as HIV/Aids treatment. However, many NGOs and healthcare providers remain uncertain about which services can resume. The waiver excludes funding for family planning, gender and diversity initiatives, and transgender healthcare.
The US provided nearly $6.6bn in humanitarian aid to sub-Saharan Africa in 2024, and Pepfar has invested over R8bn in South Africa since 2003. Experts warn that cutting this funding will have severe consequences. Speaking to the Citizen newspaper, Professor Francois Venter of Wits University explained that Pepfar supports efforts to track HIV-positive individuals who have stopped treatment—without it, many could fall through the cracks.
According to Dr Ndiviwe Mphothulo, President of the Southern African HIV Clinicians Society, South Africa is just five years away from reaching the UN’s 95-95-95 HIV targets, but funding is critical to achieving them. While South Africa has domestic funding, it is insufficient to fill the gap left by the US withdrawal of funds.
Research is also at risk. Funding suspensions could disrupt HIV and TB studies in South Africa, affecting universities and research institutions.
Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi expressed concern over these cuts, stating that global cooperation has been vital in tackling HIV/Aids, TB, and malaria. Experts warn that this shift could force South Africa to rethink its reliance on external funding.
For more stories like this
22 January 2025 | Trump Withdraws The U.S. from The WHO in A ‘Momentous Decision’. We Ask - What Now?
This story was compiled from various resources, including:
28 January 2025 | Business Live| Trump administration tells funded SA HIV/Aids partners to stop work
28 January 2025 | Citizen \ ‘Government must take control’: Trump closes SA health funding tap
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