The US decision to halt funding for South Africa’s HIV/AIDS programmes could have catastrophic consequences, with over 500,000 deaths and new infections projected over the next decade, health experts warned on Thursday.
According to AFP, the sudden withdrawal of support from PEPFAR (the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) – which has been a lifeline for millions since 2003 – has left local organisations scrambling to fill the gap.
‘We will see lives lost,’ said Linda-Gail Bekker, chief operating officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, during a press briefing in Cape Town.
Bekker cited research showing that more than half a million preventable deaths and infections will occur without the funding, which previously covered about 17 percent of South Africa’s HIV budget. The funding also ensured that 5.5 million people had access to life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, according to the country’s health ministry.
‘We are facing disaster’ – activists speak out
South African organisations that relied on USAID (United States Agency for International Development) were notified that their grants had been terminated.
According to notices seen by AFP, the grants were cancelled because they ‘did not align with US priorities’ and were ‘terminated for convenience’ in the interests of the US government.
HIV/AIDS activist Sibongile Tshabalala, who is openly living with HIV, described the situation as ‘a crisis of chaos and disaster’.
‘We are anticipating deaths. We can’t afford to die,’ she said at the media briefing.
Human rights advocate Fatima Hassan of the Health Justice Initiative echoed similar concerns, warning that thousands of lives were now at risk.
South African government responds
Amid mounting fears, President Cyril Ramaphosa attempted to reassure the nation, saying his government was working on solutions to ensure continuity of essential HIV services.
‘We are looking at various interventions to address the immediate needs,’ Ramaphosa said in a national address earlier this month.
Last week, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi launched a national campaign to put one million additional people living with HIV on treatment by the end of next year.
‘We should not accept that AIDS is here forever. It is not. We want to end it. It’s all in our hands and depends on our will,’ Motsoaledi said during the launch in Soweto, a township heavily affected by the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
The United Nations’ UNAIDS agency welcomed South Africa’s efforts and pledged to work alongside the government to safeguard access to HIV services.
Urgent action needed to fill the funding gap
Despite government assurances, health experts stressed the need for immediate action to prevent a health catastrophe.
‘We cannot afford delays right now. We need top-tier prioritisation,’ said public health expert Lynne Wilkinson.
Activists have urged alternative funding strategies, warning that even short-term disruptions in HIV treatment could lead to resistant strains of the virus, further escalating the crisis.
As the world’s largest recipient of PEPFAR funds, South Africa now faces a race against time to prevent a potential explosion of HIV-related deaths and infections.
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