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SA Health Crisis Emerges as U.S Halts HIV Aid

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Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi commented on U.S President Donald Trump’s 90-day aid suspension on HIV, TB ,and malaria treatment in some of the world’s most vulnerable regions, including SA. (Photo credits: News24 web)

South Africa’s Health Minister, Aaron Motsoaledi expressed great concern over United State’s President Donald Trump’s recent executive order to suspend foreign aid for 90 days. The decision which has frozen essential funding for health programs worldwide including South Africa, threatens to disrupt life-saving treatment for millions of HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria patients.

Minister Motsoaledi, speaking at the African National Congress media briefing, ensured that his department is already collating data on the institutions affected by the aid suspension.

We are running the world’s biggest HIV counselling and testing campaign, with at least 5.5 million people on antiretroviral (ARV) treatments. No other country comes close to that. The total amount spent on this campaign is R44.4 billion, and PEPFAR contributes seventeen percent of that funding.

The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a U.S funded initiative, and has been a “lifeline” for millions of South African citizens living with HIV/AIDS. With the programme currently frozen, most health organisations across the country are bracing for a potential shutdown.

According to Africa Report, at least four major health organisations serving thousands of patients are preparing to cease operations across , while a fifth has paused all programmes and is seeking legal advice.

Motsoaledi added that they have not received any letter instructing them to cease operations,but have been receiving information from the clinics including the ones under Wits, and described the information presented by him as a “stop-get-information”.

Most organisations funded by PEPFAR are the ones providing us with updates about receiving letters regarding the 90-day freezing of foreign aid due to review processes. We as a government have checked with all parts of authorities, and we have not yet received any letter.

The Minister also noted that , in the meantime, they will meet with the treasurer to compile and finalise the matter.

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