The executive director of the Joint United Nations Program on the Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV)/AIDS, Winnie Byanyima, has called on the United States (U.S.) to reconsider its decision to withdraw funding for the fight against HIV/AIDS in South Africa, warning that the move could cost lives in the country with the highest number of people infected with the virus in the world.
Speaking at a United Nations (UN) press conference, Byanyima expressed concern about the cuts to international aid, stating that they could undermine decades of progress made in the fight against the disease.
In a statement sent by email, the U.S. State Department announced that it had decided to begin a gradual withdrawal from the PEPFAR (U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program in South Africa, citing a lack of progress by Pretoria on certain demands made by the U.S. administration. Washington also emphasized that the program was never intended to be a permanent mechanism and that South Africa has the capacity to fund its own health programs.
According to reports in the U.S. press, the decision is also linked to political differences between the two countries, including South Africa’s relationship with Iran, policies on Black economic empowerment, and issues related to historic anti-apartheid chants.
“I am saddened by this decision. Withdrawing this support means taking away life-saving assistance from the most vulnerable people. I urge the United States to reconsider its position,” Byanyima said.
Although South Africa does not depend on U.S. funding to purchase HIV medications, the PEPFAR program previously contributed more than $400 million per year and funded the salaries of approximately 15,000 health care workers.
According to the UNAIDS executive, South Africa is home to approximately eight million people living with HIV, and the U.S. program accounted for up to 17% of national funding allocated to combating the epidemic.
Byanyima also warned that recent cuts are already affecting health services in several countries. According to UNAIDS data, HIV testing has decreased by 22% in countries with high infection rates, and in some cases, condom distribution has fallen by as much as 90%.
Currently, about 32.1 million of the nearly 40 million people living with the virus are receiving treatment. However, 9 million still lack access to treatment, and 1.2 million new infections were reported last year.
“We are seeing the first signs of serious setbacks in the progress we have made. The downward trend in infections could reverse and start rising again,” she warned.
Source: Reuters
