Cuts to United States funding for HIV/AIDS programs in numerous African countries could result in hundreds of thousands of additional deaths on the continent, according to health experts and aid organizations. In South Africa, for example, a halt in US funding could lead to half a million deaths over the next decade, as reported by an official from the Desmond Tutu HIV Center. These warnings come against the backdrop of significant US aid budget cuts, initiated by President Donald Trump, who paused foreign aid for 90 days and slashed 90 percent of USAID’s foreign contracts. Additionally, the Trump administration decided to stop funding UNAIDS, the UN’s HIV/AIDS program. This decision follows a report from UNAIDS indicating that funding cuts to HIV programs have been reported in at least 55 countries worldwide, including many in Africa. Sub-Saharan Africa bears the heaviest burden of the HIV epidemic, with approximately 25 million people living with HIV. PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, started in 2003 and is credited with saving 26 million lives, with spending totaling approximately $120 billion. The impact of these cuts on African countries, particularly on HIV programs, remains severe, with disruptions to services including prevention, testing, and treatment. The cuts have also led to widespread confusion and operational challenges among organizations and implementing partners. The US used to be responsible for two-thirds of international financing for HIV programs in developing countries, with significant recipients being South Africa and other African nations heavily reliant on US aid. The cuts have affected various HIV programs across the continent, including treatment clinics, orphanages, and research trials, leading countries like South Africa and Nigeria to explore alternative funding sources, such as UNAIDS and increased governmental or private funding. Experts call on other Western countries, particularly the European Union, to provide additional support to mitigate the adverse effects of these funding cuts.

Source: https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2025/2/28/africa-hiv-deaths-to-mount-as-trump-stops-funding-heres-why?traffic_source=rss