US Aid Cuts Intensify South Africa's Battle Against HIV/AIDS

Sat Feb 07 2026 09:47:45 GMT+0200 (Eastern European Standard Time)

The withdrawal of US funding poses increasing challenges to South Africa's healthcare system, which is vital for combating HIV/AIDS, putting countless lives at risk.

With the cutback of approximately $400 million in US funding for HIV/AIDS programs, South Africa grapples with a significant hit to its healthcare resources, jeopardizing efforts to manage and prevent the disease among its high-risk populations. Mobile clinics are crucial to reaching those reluctant to access public health services, but funding shortages may lead to reduced services.

US Aid Cuts Intensify South Africa's Battle Against HIV/AIDS

The impact of a flourish of the US president's pen in Washington a year ago continues to be felt on individual lives some 13,000km (8,000 miles) away in South Africa.

There was a collective gulp among some in the health sector here when, hours after he was inaugurated, President Trump signed an executive order freezing US aid commitments.

For South Africa, that meant the potential loss of an estimated $400 million that the US contributed each year to the country's HIV programs – representing about a fifth of what it was spending on the issue.

Last year, the government provided $46 million in response to the US decision - just 11.5% of what was lost. Additionally, the US agreed to a bridge plan of $115 million that will last until March, replacing regular funding from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Since PEPFAR was established by President George W. Bush in 2003, the US has invested over $110 billion in the global HIV/AIDS response, saving 26 million lives. Many of those lives are in South Africa, where around 13% of the population lives with HIV, making it the country with the largest number of HIV-positive individuals.

Enormous advances in treatment and prevention over the decades have ensured that many are alive who would not be otherwise, but the loss of funding threatens to reverse this progress.

Prof. Linda-Gail Bekker, head of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, stresses the significant role US funding played in carrying out outreach programs aimed at finding and treating those in need, especially in areas where access to care is limited.

The mobile clinics are essential for reaching individuals who are uncomfortable utilizing government services due to stigma or past experiences.

Health Minister Dr. Aaron Motsoaledi states that discussions are ongoing to seek additional funding to offset the US cuts, including securing doses of new HIV preventative treatments.

While the South African government is striving to recover lost funding through initiatives like the Global Fund, researchers warn that the impact of the cuts could lead to a resurgence of new infections.

As funding challenges continue, the fate of HIV programs heavily relies on finding alternative funding sources while ensuring that critical services remain accessible to those most in need.