Latest news with #HIVprevention
The Independent
4 days ago
- Business
- The Independent
Trump team set to destroy $12m worth of HIV drugs and contraceptives that were bought before closing USAID
Roughly $12 million worth of HIV-prevention drugs and contraceptives purchased by the U.S. Agency for International Development will likely be destroyed after President Donald Trump dismantled the organization, according to a report. These drugs have been sitting in distribution centers in Belgium and the UAE since January, when Trump ended the agency's spending, The Washington Post reported. Now, negotiators have been instructed to sell the drugs or else they'll be thrown out, according to the outlet. 'The mandate that [the USAID negotiator] has been given is 'get us money for it, and if you can't do that, we're just going to trash it,'' someone with knowledge of the situation told the Post. These supplies include more than 26 million condoms, 2 million doses of injectable birth control, millions of packages of oral birth control, hundreds of thousands of implantable contraceptive devices, and over 50,000 vials of a drug that prevents HIV contraction, the Post reports. Some of these supplies were earmarked for 18 countries, meaning those governments may never get the aid even though it was already purchased, according to the Post. When contacted for comment, a senior State Department official told The Independent that the Post has 'once again delivered fake news' and the 'story is full of inaccuracies.' Atul Gawande, a former assistant USAID administrator, told the Post the potential destruction of these drugs is 'inconceivable.' Meanwhile, Former USAID head Andrew Natsios called the decision 'nuts.' 'At this point, just give it away instead of destroying it, for heaven's sakes,' he told the Post. Trump cut off USAID funds in January, saying the organization that provides humanitarian aid abroad is 'not aligned with American interests.' The Trump administration is also poised to ask Congress for $8.3 billion in cuts to foreign aid efforts, which range from climate work to LGBTQ+ programs, The Independent previously reported. The decision has derailed the projected end of the AIDS pandemic and means the number of AIDS-related deaths could jump from six million to 10 million in the next five years unless aid is reinstated, The Independent previously reported. Data projections indicate there will be 3.4 million more orphans who have lost at least one parent to AIDS, and 600,000 more newborns could contract HIV by 2030. 'All the gains that we've seen over the last 20 years will start being steadily reversed,' Professor Francois Venter, a leading HIV doctor at the University of Witwatersrand in Johannesburg, previously told The Independent. Hadja, a 27-year-old mother of three in Uganda, previously told The Independent she has lost access to lifesaving medication since Trump effectively shut down USAID. 'Our lives depend on medicine – without it, our lives are shortened,' she said. 'If I die, my children will suffer.'
Washington Post
4 days ago
- Business
- Washington Post
The U.S. bought $12 million in aid for poor nations. Under Trump, it may be destroyed.
More than $12 million worth of contraceptives and HIV-prevention medications purchased by the U.S. government as aid for developing countries under programs that have since been discontinued will probably be destroyed unless officials sell or otherwise off-load them, an examination by The Washington Post found. Government records obtained by The Post reveal that virtually all of the supplies have been sitting in distribution centers — one in Belgium and one in the United Arab Emirates — since January, when President Donald Trump halted spending by the U.S. Agency for International Development, saying it was 'not aligned with American interests.' Much of the material is already closer to expiration than many countries would typically accept.
Malay Mail
28-05-2025
- Business
- Malay Mail
Kossan Holdings becomes the strategic investor in CARE Latex, Malaysia's leading condom brand
KUALA LUMPUR, May 28 — CARE Latex Sdn Bhd, Malaysia's leading condom brand, has announced a strategic partnership with Kossan Holdings (M) Sdn Bhd, the investment arm of one of the world's largest manufacturers of gloves and rubber products. This partnership positions Kossan Holdings as CARE Latex's third-largest investor, strengthening the brand's strategic foundation and supporting its long-term growth ambitions in the global sexual wellness market. CARE Latex's impressive growth trajectory — highlighted by a 1,399 per cent increase in revenue and a 1,615 per cent surge in unit sales from 2018 to 2024 — underscores strong consumer trust and positions the brand as a regional frontrunner and emerging global player. This strategic partnership with Kossan Holdings marks a pivotal milestone in CARE Latex's pre-IPO journey. It enhances CARE Latex's ecosystem by accelerating product innovation, improving inventory management, expanding research and development capabilities, and broadening market reach through new distribution channels. Beyond market expansion, the collaboration also aligns with CARE Latex's commitment to public health, particularly in addressing the urgent issue of HIV prevention among Southeast Asian youth. According to UNAIDS 2023, one in four new HIV cases in the region involves individuals aged 15 to 24, with 93 per cent linked to unprotected sex. In Malaysia, the Ministry of Health's Global AIDS Monitoring Report 2024 indicates that 32 per cent of new HIV infections occur in this age group, and yet condom usage remains below 40 per cent. CARE Latex is building greater operational capacity and expanding access to trusted protection products by harnessing advanced manufacturing and supply chain strengths — deepening its commitment to preventing sexually transmitted diseases and promoting sex education. 'Welcoming Kossan Holdings as a strategic investor enhances our capacity to scale production, drive innovation, and deliver our mission. Together, we are building a globally respected Malaysian brand that stands for quality, innovation, and social responsibility,' said Bonn Lam Chee Fong, Founder of CARE Latex. Reflecting on CARE Latex's origins, Bonn added, 'Our journey started with a simple yet powerful insight — if the world's leading condom brands source their latex from Malaysia, why not build a world-class brand here at home?' 'With Malaysia ranking as the sixth-largest producer of natural latex, we are leveraging local strengths to accelerate the R&D pipeline, to launch innovations like Malaysia's first Microbial Barrier condom, designed with antimicrobial and antioxidant properties for enhanced protection.' Lim Seow Chair, representative of Kossan Holdings, commented: 'We are proud to support CARE Latex, a brand that shares our values of integrity, innovation, and sustainable impact. CARE Latex's focus on sexual wellness, coupled with its inclusive, innovative and science-led approach, aligns perfectly with our purpose-driven investment philosophy.' CARE Latex is the only Malaysian condom brand with a retail presence in both Singapore and South Korea, distributed through major convenience store chains such as Olive Young and GS25, which has over 17,300 outlets. Future expansion markets include Singapore, Vietnam, Hong Kong, Macau, New Zealand, and the United States. The company's growth strategy remains anchored in broadening retail reach, advancing product innovation, and exploring acquisitions of local brands. Multiple new product lines are in development to support this continued growth, including clinical and personal lubricants, pregnancy and HIV test kits, pleasure devices, and wellness supplements.
