Experts warn that 500,000 deaths could result from funding cuts in South Africa alone within ten years.
Health experts and aid organizations have warned that hundreds of thousands of deaths could result from the United States cutting funding to HIV/AIDS programs in many African nations.
According to a Desmond Tutu HIV Center official, US funding halts could result in 500,000 deaths in South Africa alone over the next ten years.
As nations start to feel the effects of significant US aid cuts, the warning is issued. President Donald Trump halted foreign aid assistance for a first period of 90 days with a broad executive order shortly after taking office on January 20. Trump’s administration fired thousands of its employees in Washington this week and slashed 90% of foreign contracts that were funded by USAID, the US aid agency.
The Trump administration’s decision to cease funding UNAIDS, the UN’s HIV/AIDS program that assists communities worldwide, was also announced on Thursday.
According to a report released this week by UNAIDS, at least 55 nations worldwide—including multiple African nations—have reported reducing funding for HIV programs. This included stopping 55 HIV projects that were partially or fully funded by the United States or supported by the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Out of the 38 million people living with HIV worldwide, an estimated 25 million live in sub-Saharan Africa, making African nations the ones most affected by the HIV epidemic.
UNAIDS claims that since its inception in 2003, PEPFAR has saved 26 million lives. Since its start, the program has spent about $120 billion.
The following information explains how African nations are being impacted by aid cuts to HIV/AIDS programs:
