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USAID Ends Pepfar HIV Support in South Africa – Immediate Shutdown Ordered
Time to read: 01:12
27 February 2025 | 11:30
News Outlet, Bhekisisa broke the news this morning that multiple USAID-funded HIV organisations in South Africa were notified overnight that their grants had been permanently terminated.
Pepfar (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), which has provided approximately $8 billion to South Africa since 2003, is the primary source of these funds. The termination also affects USAID-funded district health projects and TB programmes.
Notably, the Anova Health Institute, the largest Pepfar recipient in South Africa, confirmed the loss of its funding. Other affected organisations include Wits Reproductive Health Institute, Broadreach Healthcare, and Right to Care, all part of the Accelerating Programme Achievements to Control the Epidemic (Apace). These organisations played key roles in HIV testing, treatment, and TB care.
The termination letters, signed under a directive from U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Deputy Administrator Peter W. Marocco, cited misalignment with USAID priorities. Organisations were ordered to halt activities immediately.
Health experts and activists have condemned the move, warning of devastating consequences, particularly for vulnerable populations such as LGBTI+ communities, sex workers, and children. Critics, including the Treatment Action Campaign, describe the decision as catastrophic, urging the South African government to step in.
While Pepfar projects funded via the CDC continue temporarily, their future remains uncertain. Stakeholders are calling for urgent government intervention to mitigate the fallout.
This is a developing story. You can follow the coverage from Bhekisisa here
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