🚨 BREAKING: UNITED STATES PLANS TO END 23-YEAR HIV FUNDING PARTNERSHIP WITH SOUTH AFRICA
South Africa could soon lose one of its biggest international health funding partnerships after reports emerged that the United States plans to permanently phase out funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The programme, launched in 2003, has invested more than $8 billion (approximately R131 billion) into South Africa’s fight against HIV/AIDS over the past 23 years.
KEY FACTS:
• PEPFAR was launched by former US President George W. Bush in 2003 to help countries heavily affected by HIV/AIDS.
• South Africa has received over R131 billion in support through the programme since its inception.
• The Trump administration reportedly plans to complete the withdrawal of funding by early 2027.
• US officials reportedly believe South Africa, as a middle-income country, should now be able to fund its own HIV programmes.
• The South African Department of Health says it has not yet received any official notification confirming the decision.
• PEPFAR funding has played a major role in HIV treatment, prevention programmes, reducing mother-to-child transmission, and supporting healthcare services in some of the country’s hardest-hit districts.
• South Africa currently operates the world’s largest state-funded antiretroviral treatment programme.
Health Department spokesperson Foster Mohale said government officials have not been formally informed of any funding withdrawal but acknowledged that such a move would not be entirely unexpected given signals from Washington over the past year.
If confirmed, the decision would mark the end of one of the largest and longest-running public health partnerships in South African history.
Do you think South Africa should be able to fully fund its own HIV/AIDS programmes without foreign assistance?