South Africa's health programs, heavily reliant on US funding, face uncertainty following President Trump's executive order pausing foreign aid. The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute highlights the potential for service disruptions, urging the South African government to assume control and protect citizens' health.
The Dean of Wits University’s Faculty of Health Sciences has urged the South African government to take control of the country's health programs , warning they could be disrupted by newly elected US President Donald Trump 's executive order on foreign aid. On Monday, Trump ordered a 90-day pause on almost all US foreign assistance as his administration promotes its “America First” agenda.
This pause specifically affects programs receiving funding through the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). South Africa receives approximately $448.5 million (R8.5 billion) annually from the US for its health programs, primarily focused on fighting AIDS.The Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute (RHI) Trans Health Centre, one of the organizations impacted, announced the closure of its Key Populations Programme clinics until further notice, citing the USAID Stop Order. This closure underscores the potential for disruption to vital health services in South Africa. Professor Shabir Madhi, a prominent figure in the field of health, clarified that the stop orders haven't halted all US-funded programs. He explained that specific programs, particularly those emphasizing diversity, equity, and inclusion, have been targeted. While other programs haven’t received stop-work orders, their future funding remains uncertain pending further review by the US administration.Madhi emphasized the importance of government assuming responsibility for these programs, stating that “it is eventually the responsibility of government to assume control of these programmes and to ensure that these programmes continue.” He stressed that the South African government must step in to minimize service disruptions caused by the potential halting of US funding. Madhi underscored the need for the government to prioritize its citizens' healthcare, stating, “Certainly, government has been assisted by the US, but at the same time, it can’t be a dependency on the US to ensure that the health of our citizens is protected. So, government has to come to the fore in terms of ensuring they put into place mitigation to actually minimize disruption to services.” He cited the Trans Health Centre as an example of a program specifically targeted by the Trump administration’s stop-work orders, highlighting the potential for broader impacts on health programs focused on marginalized communities
HEALTH PROGRAMS FOREIGN AID SOUTH AFRICA DONALD TRUMP USAID UNITED STATES HIV AIDS WITS UNIVERSITY GOVERNMENT RESPONSIBILITY
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