The US State Department has lifted a ban on HIV treatment funding to countries reliant on PEPFAR, including South Africa, reversing a decision made in President Trump's first week back in office. While the waiver provides immediate relief, the future of PEPFAR remains uncertain.
The US State Department announced a lift on the ban, likely temporary as Trump follows through on his "America first" vow
South Africa, a beneficiary of the United States Agency for International Development programmes, is among numerous countries in various African regions, including Southern, Central, East, and West Africa, receiving vital antiretroviral therapy drug treatment and related services. The impact of the programme in SA has been enormous as the HIV prevalence rate was 12.6% in 2023, a decrease from 14% in 2017, with an estimated 7.8 million people living with HIV.
After the freeze, as Trump seemingly gives credence to his "America first" vision, they had been instructed not to report to work or serve patients.
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