JOHANNESBERG, June 23 – Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has urged the United States to reconsider its decision to withdraw HIV/AIDS funding for South Africa, warning that the move could put millions of lives at risk in the country with the world’s largest HIV population.
Speaking ahead of a high level United Nations conference on HIV/AIDS, Byanyima said cutting life saving support without a proper transition would affect the most vulnerable people and could reverse years of progress made in the global fight against the disease.
According to reports, the funding withdrawal follows disagreements between Washington and Pretoria over South Africa’s ties with Iran, its Black Economic Empowerment policies and other political issues.
Byanyima also warned that wider cuts to international development assistance from traditional donors in North America and Europe are already affecting HIV services across several countries.
UNAIDS said about 32.1 million of the nearly 40 million people living with HIV worldwide are currently receiving treatment. However, around 9 million people still do not have access to treatment, while 1.2 million new HIV infections were recorded last year.
The agency said recent funding cuts have already reduced HIV testing by 22% in high burden countries, while some countries have reported a 90% drop in condom distribution. Byanyima warned that these setbacks could lead to a rise in new infections if funding continues to decline.
South Africa is home to about 8 million people living with HIV. While the country funds its own HIV medicines, the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has contributed more than $400 million each year and previously covered the salaries of about 15,000 healthcare workers. The programme has also accounted for around 17% of South Africa’s HIV funding.
