The US government’s decision to halt funding for PEPFAR, a life-saving program providing antiretroviral treatments and prevention services, has raised concerns among health experts. The move was made following allegations of nurses funded by PEPFAR performing illegal abortions in Mozambique.
Prof. Lucie Cluver, co-lead author of an analysis on the impact of PEPFAR, warned that the suspension will set global progress to end HIV/AIDS back to the “dark ages.” She cited a recent report from Zambia where health workers described feeling like they were working 25 years ago due to the lack of resources.
PEPFAR’s funding also supports programs aimed at improving child health and eliminating sexual violence against girls. The experts urged the US to support a five-year transition plan, allowing African governments to gradually take on responsibility for these programs.
The suspension of PEPFAR has far-reaching consequences, with Prof. Cluver stating that it will have a devastating impact on countries that rely on the program. She also emphasized that PEPFAR is crucial to the US’s global reputation and trade relationships.
If not addressed, the loss of PEPFAR funding could lead to a resurgence in HIV/AIDS cases, particularly among vulnerable populations such as children and adolescents. The experts are calling for the US government to reconsider its decision and support a sustainable transition plan for the program.
Source: https://www.telegraph.co.uk/global-health/science-and-disease/pepfar-aids-hiv-africa-deaths-children-usaid-cuts