Former U.S. President Donald Trump’s decision to suspend foreign aid has thrown health programs in Africa into disarray, with HIV treatment initiatives coming to a standstill.
His billionaire ally, Elon Musk, has also claimed to be dismantling the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID), further deepening the crisis.
A 90-day halt on the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has particularly dire consequences. PEPFAR supports over 20 million HIV patients and employs 270,000 health workers globally. It also provides life-saving antiretroviral treatment to nearly 680,000 pregnant women, preventing HIV transmission to newborns. Experts estimate that within three months, 135,987 infants could contract HIV due to the freeze.
Although Acting USAID Chief Marco Rubio assured that "life-saving treatments" would be exempt, many health workers on the ground report facility closures, research initiatives, including the MOSAIC project testing new HIV prevention methods, have abruptly stopped. Patients undergoing experimental treatments now face serious health risks, and thousands of health journalists and educators have lost their jobs.
Beyond HIV programs, the aid suspension affects efforts to combat diseases like tuberculosis and cholera. A Kenyan aid worker described the situation as a "bombshell," with organizations struggling to pay staff or rent. In Ethiopia, USAID employees were seen vacating their offices.
Did you read this?
