Chronicle Editor
Sikhumbuzo Moyo, [email protected]
THE International AIDS Society has warned of a grave catastrophe following the United States of America’s decision to immediately halt funding to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), including a stop-work order for existing grants and contracts.
In a statement, IAS President Beatriz Grinsztejn said the decision threatens millions of lives worldwide.
“This is a matter of life or death. PEPFAR provides lifesaving antiretrovirals for more than 20 million people, and stopping its funding essentially stops their HIV treatment. If that happens, people are going to die and HIV will resurge,” said Ms Grinsztejn.
The government has already raised concerns over the development, with Finance, Economic Development and Investment Promotion Minister Professor Mthuli Ncube calling for the strengthening of domestic resource mobilisation to fund the health sector.
The US has been a major global funder of various health programmes, and its withdrawal from the WHO signals a likely reduction in support for countries like Zimbabwe, which rely on PEPFAR funding for HIV and AIDS programmes.
Prof Ncube shared these insights during an online meeting with the media, providing updates on the ongoing World Economic Forum (WEF) annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland.
“One issue which we noted is the US pulling out of the WHO, which we feel might signal reduced support for countries such as Zimbabwe, as you know Zimbabwe relies on PEPFAR funding directly from the US government to support our HIV and AIDS programmes,” she said.
Zimbabwe receives over $200 million annually from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), and the US government has given Zimbabwe over $1.7 billion since 2006 to strengthen health systems and support people living with HIV.
Online Reporter