UNAids urges Trump administration to reconsider funding cut on HIV/Aids to South Africa

As over eight million people are living with HIV in South Africa, UNAids chief Winnie Byanyima has urged the Trump Administration to reconsider its position of withdrawing HIV/Aids funding for South Africa saying the decision will cost many lives.

Speaking ahead of a UN meeting on the virus, Byanyima told the media that taking the funding away is taking life-saving support from the most vulnerable people.

“Taking it away is taking life-saving support from the most vulnerable people, so that is sad and I would like the United States to reconsider its position.
“Please do not take money away because you are taking lives away,” said Byanyima.

She further stated that the cuts risk reversing all the progress they have made in their HIV response so far and she has called all UN member states to protect the rights of people living with HIV.

Meanwhile, the Trump administration has always insisted that there is White genocide in South Africa and this has prompted the US decision to cut funding. However, South Africa has always denied the allegations.

On the other hand, South Africa’s health ministry says it does not solely rely on outside funding for the HIV programs as it has long been working on a self-reliance plan.

Until 2025, the US was supporting South Africa’s efforts to deal with the virus with an estimated $400m (£300m) a year through the President’s Emergency Fund for Aids Relief (Pepfar).

Pepfar had been providing around 17% of South Africa’s HIV response funding and at the moment, more than eight million people are living with HIV in South Africa which is the highest number in the world.

Source: BBC