The Trump administration has officially halted all HIV/AIDS funding to South Africa, permanently cutting off financial support for life-saving programs that have operated in the country for over two decades.
Confirmed: No more HIV/AIDS funding for South Africa
The move comes after an initial 90-day freeze, which was temporarily reversed for essential treatment initiatives but has now been scrapped entirely.
The decision affects thousands of healthcare programs, with organisations funded through the US Agency for International Development (USAID) receiving termination notices.
Letters sent to affected groups, first seen by Bhekisisa, stated that their grants were “not aligned with Agency priorities” and instructed them to shut down all operations immediately.
The cuts impact projects funded through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a US initiative that has contributed over $8 billion to South Africa’s HIV response since 2003.
This funding has supported HIV testing, treatment, and prevention services, particularly for vulnerable populations, including LGBTI+ communities, pregnant women, and children.
The South African government has yet to outline a concrete plan to fill the funding gap, leaving millions of people at risk of losing access to critical healthcare services.
The fallout from Trump’s decision
The decision to cut funding has sparked widespread outrage among public health experts, activists, and affected communities. Organisations that rely on US support to provide HIV treatment, tuberculosis care, and prevention services say the abrupt termination will have devastating consequences.
Sibongile Tshabalala, chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign, called the move “a death sentence for the poor.”
She criticised the South African government’s lack of urgency, stating, “We need our leaders to act now and ensure that people living with HIV continue to receive care.”
Dr Linda-Gail Bekker, CEO of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, expressed frustration at the cuts, saying, “We now really need to hear the plans from our country health departments on how this chaos will be addressed.”
Meanwhile, advocacy groups have called on the South African government to step in and ensure the continuity of essential health services. The Health Justice Initiative’s Fatima Hassan criticised the lack of communication from officials.
“The silence from the health department is unacceptable. There is no urgency, no coordination, and no reassurance for the millions who rely on these programs,” she said.
What happens next?
With US funding permanently withdrawn, the future of South Africa’s HIV/AIDS response is uncertain.
Experts warn that without immediate intervention, treatment disruptions could lead to rising infection rates, increased deaths, and a reversal of decades of progress in the fight against HIV.
For now, health organisations are scrambling to find alternative funding sources, but without government action, the consequences could be catastrophic for millions of people living with HIV in South Africa.
