UNAIDS warns US HIV aid cut to SA could cost lives and reverse progress
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima warned that the United States’ planned withdrawal of HIV/AIDS funding from South Africa could cost lives and undo decades of progress. She spoke ahead of a high‑level UN meeting, urging Washington to reconsider and adopt a gradual transition plan to avoid disrupting critical HIV services. South Africa has the world’s largest HIV burden, with about eight million people living with the virus. While the country funds most of its treatment programme, US support through PEPFAR remains crucial for prevention, testing and healthcare workers serving vulnerable communities. Byanyima said PEPFAR contributes more than $400 million annually to South Africa’s HIV response, accounting for up to 17 percent of the country’s HIV funding. The Trump administration announced a phased withdrawal, citing disagreements with Pretoria over land reform, Black Economic Empowerment policies and perceived insufficient protection for the white Afrikaner minority. The South African government rejected those claims, saying its policies address apartheid‑era inequalities and are constitutional. Public health experts warn that cuts to prevention, testing and personnel could weaken SA’s broader HIV response and put vulnerable groups at greater risk. For Nigerians, this serves as a reminder that Nigeria also relies heavily on PEPFAR for its HIV programmes; any broader US aid reductions could affect local prevention and treatment efforts. Will Nigeria's own HIV programs be resilient if US aid declines, or should the country increase domestic funding now?