The devastating effects of US foreign aid cuts under President Donald Trump are being felt across the continent, where an estimated 26 million people live with HIV. Massive reductions in funding have left millions without access to life-saving treatment drugs, putting their lives at risk.
Since Mr. Trump took office, at least 83 per cent of US Agency for International Development (USAID) aid programs have been abruptly cancelled, eliminating billions of dollars from African budgets for health and education initiatives. This has severely impacted HIV programs, particularly in countries such as South Africa, Uganda, and Botswana, where clinics are now struggling to provide even basic treatment.
In some clinics, patients are being left with only two weeks’ worth of medication, instead of the usual three-month supply. In South Africa, some clinics have been forced to reduce the dosage from 14 tablets to just one tablet per patient, leaving many patients without enough treatment to last their entire lifespan.
The consequences are dire. According to a study in the Annals of Internal Medicine, up to 600,000 people could die over the next decade in South Africa alone due to US funding cuts. In Uganda, new HIV infections could triple, while thousands of workers in HIV programs have lost their jobs, making it even harder for those living with the disease to access essential services.
“The treatment is being disrupted – it’s chaotic on the ground,” said Eric Arts, a professor of microbiology and immunology at Western University. “Any break in treatment can be deadly.” The lack of HIV testing has also become a major concern, with clinics like New Start centres suspended due to funding cuts.
For millions of people living with HIV, the future is uncertain. As one patient, Janet Sigauke, said, “I might never know my status until I fall sick.” With US aid cuts exacerbating existing health crises, it’s clear that the world’s poor are bearing the brunt of these devastating consequences.
Source: https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-africans-with-hiv-facing-new-dangers-as-trump-administration-cuts-aid