US funding withdrawal will not collapse HIV programme, says health minister
US funding withdrawal will not collapse HIV programme, says health minister
The withdrawal of billions in US government funding to South Africa will not collapse the fight against HIV/Aids.
This is the assurance of Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi amid growing concerns over the withdrawal of R7.9-billion in funding.
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He said it is 'inconceivable that out of R46.8-billion spent by the country on HIV programmes, the withdrawal of R7.9-billion by President Trump will collapse the entire programme'.
'Today we have about 5.9 million people on antiretroviral therapy (ART), mother-to-child transmission has reduced dramatically. We have reduced deaths from HIV and concomitantly reduced the deaths from TB.
'When we started this programme, we needed R3.5-billion, today we spent R46.8-billion of which R7.9-billion was from the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR),' said Dr Motsoaledi.
He said PEPFAR was supporting the Department of Health in 27 HIV high burden districts out of 52 districts in the country. This includes seven districts in KZN.
The minister said, in these 27 districts there were only 12 specialised clinics independent from the government, managed by the NGOs providing services mainly for key populations funded by PEPFAR.
'When the PEPFAR funder clinics were closed, we removed their files from those clinics to the nearest public facilities, and we can confirm that all 63 322 have been moved.
'Then the work to contact their owners to transfer them to public health facilities where their files are, started in earnest and continues.
'In the process, some clients requested they be referred to different facilities which are more accessible and convenient for them,' said Motsoaledi.
This is together with a stable supply of ARVs.
'We procure 90% of ARVs from government fiscus, supported by 10% from the Global Fund.
'The Global Fund has pledged extra R1-billion for ARV procurement to ensure sustainable supply. Some of these orders have been signed off,' said Motsoaledi.
'UNAIDS has calculated that to bring an end to Aids as a public health threat, a country should reach a target of 95-95-95, meaning 95% of HIV-positive people must know their status, 95% of those who are positive should be put on treatment, and 95% of those on treatment should achieve viral suppression whereby they stop transmitting the virus to other people.
'We know there are 7.9 million people in South Africa who are estimated by UNAIDS to be HIV-positive. At the moment, in terms of UNAIDS targets, we are at 96-79-94.'
HIV funding gap update by Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi today (15 May ).https://t.co/f5bbjQ8Bbq
— National Department of Health (@HealthZA) May 15, 2025
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