Latest news with #PEPFAR
eNCA
6 days ago
- Health
- eNCA
South Africa at a crossroads: Can it keep up with a changing global health system?
JOHANNESBURG - South Africa is facing a pivotal moment in its public health history. As traditional global health funding models falter, the country must urgently rethink how it sustains its healthcare systems, continues its gains against HIV/AIDS, and ensures future generations are equipped to meet emerging challenges. This as foreign aid is shrinking and the need for domestic resilience is greater than ever. From US support to uncertainty For years South Africa was one of the largest beneficiaries of US health funding. Programmes like PEPFAR and NIH-backed research collaboration played a central role in expanding HIV/AIDS treatment, building public health infrastructure, and fuelling scientific discovery. But in US President Donald Trump's second term, the US has frozen nearly $900-million in global health funding, abruptly halting critical support to South Africa and other African nations. The results were immediate and devastating: Over 15,000 healthcare workers lost their jobs, and communities that had gained access to life-saving treatment suddenly found themselves cut off from care. UNAIDS: 'The world is off-track' Despite these setbacks, UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima is urging countries like South Africa not to lose sight of the ultimate goal—zero new HIV infections by 2030. Speaking from Johannesburg, Byanyima acknowledged that global funding cuts have derailed progress in key regions. South Africa, once a leader in HIV/AIDS reduction, now faces mounting pressure to bridge the gap left by funding cuts. She pointed to Namibia, where more than 90% of HIV programmes were donor-funded. Without similar investments or domestic replacements, gains are being reversed. But she also highlighted that sub-Saharan Africa is still outperforming the global average in reducing both infections and deaths—proof, she said, that the continent can still succeed if backed by sustained support. Academic institutions under strain The health crisis has spilled into South Africa's universities and research hubs. Institutions that once hosted major NIH- and PEPFAR-linked studies are now struggling to survive. Without international funding, global research partnerships are suspended, and leading scientists and postgraduate researchers have been laid off. Universities, led by Wits, have asked National Treasury for R2-billion to prevent a collapse of research infrastructure. But that support remains limited—and temporary. The long-term danger? A skills vacuum. Universities are where South Africa trains its future doctors, researchers and epidemiologists. Without strong academic infrastructure, the country risks falling behind on innovation and health leadership for decades to come. Health emergencies meet systemic weakness At the same time, South Africa must brace for new health emergencies. Climate-linked diseases, increased migration, and pandemics demand a robust, self-sufficient health system. If not addressed urgently, the erosion of key services could leave South Africa vulnerable to regional outbreaks, system collapse, and deeper health inequalities. Innovation offers a glimmer of hope UNAIDS is now in talks with global pharmaceutical companies like Gilead Sciences, which has developed lenacapavir, a twice-yearly injectable proven to be 100% effective in preventing HIV transmission. Priced at around R720 a patient per year, the treatment holds massive potential for countries like South Africa—but only if it becomes widely licensed and locally produced. UNAIDS is urging Gilead to open licensing to more manufacturers to reduce costs and accelerate access. Can South Africa keep up? The challenge now is stark: Can South Africa keep pace with the transformation of the global health landscape? As donor funding shrinks and international priorities shift, the country must rapidly build internal capacity—not only to respond to today's emergencies but to future-proof its health system. That means investing in people, protecting academic research, and creating health financing models that are resilient and locally anchored. The window to act is narrowing. Conclusion: Time to lead The global health system is shifting and South Africa must choose how it responds. The loss of US funding has exposed dangerous dependencies, but also an opportunity to build something more sustainable, inclusive, and home-grown. Can the country develop health systems strong enough to endure future crises, empower the next generation of scientists, and deliver care to those who need it most? If so, South Africa could emerge as not just a survivor but as a global leader in health innovation and equity. If not, the nation risks trading its hard-won gains for a long and costly road to recovery. By: Zinhle Dlamini
Business Insider
6 days ago
- Health
- Business Insider
HIV, TB, malaria treatment in Kenya threatened by KSh 11.4B funding reduction
Kenya's Treasury Cabinet Secretary John Mbadi presented the estimates in Parliament on Thursday, showing a drop in HIV, TB, and malaria funding from KSh 28.7 billion in the current financial year to KSh 17.3 billion. This comes after the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) withdrew their financial support earlier this year, leaving Kenya's health sector exposed to severe funding gaps. In March, the Ministry of Health indicated that KSh 13.54 billion was urgently needed to sustain HIV, TB, and malaria programs for the remainder of the year. This included KSh 7.68 billion for the procurement of essential medical commodities and KSh 5.8 billion to maintain the employment of 11,059 frontline healthcare workers. Within the new allocation, the Treasury has included contributions to the Global Fund for HIV, TB, and malaria, alongside KSh 4.6 billion for vaccines and immunization and KSh 500 million for family planning and reproductive health commodities. Concerns rise amid USAID exit However, it remains unclear whether these allocations will be sufficient to cover the funding vacuum created by the exit of USAID and PEPFAR. For years, these donor programs have played a crucial role in supporting Kenya's efforts against HIV and other communicable diseases. Their withdrawal marks a significant setback for ongoing public health interventions. Geopolitical economist Aly-Khan Satchu described the situation as a major stress test for Kenya's health infrastructure. ' To some degree, there is no HIV or vaccine program without PEPFAR,' he said. ' They are going to have to achieve this now in a shock therapy type moment.' The announcement has raised alarm among health stakeholders, who have previously appealed to the government to act swiftly in addressing the budget gap. As the new fiscal plan awaits legislative scrutiny, questions are being raised about how Kenya intends to meet its public health commitments without the financial backing it has relied on for years.
Eyewitness News
13-06-2025
- Politics
- Eyewitness News
PEPFAR withdrawal has spurred on govt to become more self-reliant
CAPE TOWN - Deputy President Paul Mashatile said the withdrawal of funding from the United States (US) to fund the country's HIV/Aids programmes has spurred on government to become more self-reliant. He said African governments need to use their own natural resources to fund their programmes and should not have to go cap in hand to anybody. Again, responding to questions in the National Assembly on Thursday on the impact of the withdrawal of President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR) funding, Mashatile said no HIV/Aids patient would suffer as a result. READ: Godongwana lists PEPFAR withdrawal as one of several spending pressures in his budget Mashatile has reiterated that the R8 billion in lost funding for HIV/Aids programmes in 2025 won't impact the supply of anti-retroviral (ARV) medication nor the target of getting another 1.1 million people on life-saving drugs before the end of 2035. While the South African National Aids Council, which Mashatile chairs, is hoping the National Lottery comes through for it to plug the gap, Mashatile said if it does not, other options like the national fiscus are already being explored. 'I'm not saying we will abandon the US. They remain one of our biggest trading partners, but we must not go cap in hand to anyone.' Mashatile was then involved in a tense exchange with the Freedom Front (FF) Plus's Philip van Staden, who said people were suffering as a result of government 'blunders'. He wanted to know how thousands of healthcare workers who had lost their jobs due to the withdrawal of PEPFAR funding would be compensated, but he refused to clarify his comments when asked by Mashatile. 'People are suffering because of government blunders. I don't know what you are talking about. What blunders are those?' Mashatile said government is looking to the BRICS groups of countries and the African Union (AU) to collaborate in the fight against HIV and Aids.
The Herald Scotland
13-06-2025
- Business
- The Herald Scotland
Trump wins House approval to take back foreign aid, NPR, PBS funding
The vote is a win for Trump and his billionaire former advisor, Elon Musk, and the Department of Government Efficiency project that all but eliminated the U.S. Agency for International Development. Billions of dollars of the targeted funds flowed through the now-defunct agency. More: Dismantling agencies and firing workers: How Trump is redefining relations with Congress and courts It also reflects ongoing tensions within the Republican party over spending and Congress' control over government spending. Many GOP lawmakers were eager to push the request through, but moderate members of the party raised concerns with the impact of cuts. A primary concern was the $1.1 billion in cuts to the Corporation for Public Broadcasting, which funds NPR and PBS. Rep. Mark Amodei, R-Nevada, penned a joint statement with Rep. Dan Goldman, D-New York, chairs of the Public Broadcasting Caucus, defending "the valuable role public media plays across our districts, particularly in rural areas where, in many cases, it is the only available and reliable media service available." "Rural broadcasters face significant challenges in raising private funds, making them particularly vulnerable if government funding is cut," they wrote. Others have said they're concerned about cuts to the United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program started under former President George W. Bush. In total, the package would pull back $8.3 billion in foreign aid. Several Republicans have also raised concerns privately that the package oversteps the balance of power between Congress and the executive branch, because the request targets funds previously approved by lawmakers and because the proposal itself, in some cases, leaves out details on specifically what would change. However, House leadership praised the effort as an easy way to deliver on promises to cut federal spending. "We all ran on the government has a spending problem," GOP conference chair Lisa McClain, R-Michigan, told USA TODAY on June 9. "We're talking about $9.4 billion. This is a no-brainer."
Yahoo
13-06-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Nebraska House GOP members vote to cut $9.4B federal funding from foreign aid, NPR, PBS
The Trump Administration is on track to do what two previous GOP administrations sought to do: strip federal funding for NPR and PBS. (Photo by) LINCOLN — Nebraska House Republicans joined a GOP majority Thursday in advancing a White House request to claw back $9.4 billion the federal government had already approved for international aid and funding for public media. The legislation revokes more than $8 billion from several foreign aid programs run by the U.S. State Department or the U.S. Agency for International Development. It also would rescind all funding Congress approved for the Corporation for Public Broadcasting for fiscal years 2026 and 2027, totaling $1.1 billion. It passed the House on a largely party-line vote of 214-212. The proposal now goes to the U.S. Senate, where it needs a simple majority to pass. The Senate would need to act before mid-July to approve the cuts, States Newsroom reported. The Trump Administration is on track to do what two previous GOP administrations sought to do — strip federal funding for National Public Radio and the Public Broadcasting Service. 'For decades, Republicans have promised to cut NPR, but have never done it, until now,' Trump said during the vote on Truth Social. 'The Rescissions Bill is a NO BRAINER, and every single Republican in Congress should vote, 'YES.' MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN!' The push is just another step in the White House's political battle with the media. Trump and some House GOP members said they are fulfilling their pledge to cut the organizations' funding. U.S. Reps. Adrian Smith, who represents Nebraska's rural 3rd Congressional District and Mike Flood, who represents eastern Nebraska's 1st District, had telegraphed support for the proposal for days. But Rep. Don Bacon, who represents the Omaha-based 2nd District, had told the New York Times earlier this week he was a no on the rescissions package, saying he wouldn't follow His 'party off the cliff.' Bacon flipped his vote to yes after a brief floor conversation with House Speaker Mike Johnson as the vote was held open. States Newsroom also reported that New York Republican Rep. Nick LaLota also changed his vote after a similar talk. Bacon told the Nebraska Examiner on Thursday that he got reassurances from House GOP leadership to find funding for international AIDS prevention and at least some funding for public media. 'I was reassured by House Republican leadership that PBS would receive funding for next year, and it would go to annual funding after that,' Bacon said. 'They also told me that PEPFAR funding for life-saving treatments will not be affected. Because of these reassurances, I voted yes on H.R. 4.' PEPFAR, or the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, was launched by former President George W. Bush in 2003. Bacon had previously said that if Nebraska Public Media loses funding, its 'absence' would 'leave a void.' Bacon's critics, including the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee, said it continued a trend of Bacon saying one thing publicly to sound moderate and ultimately voting with the party — though he recently voted against party lines for a bill that would rename the Gulf of Mexico to the Gulf of America. 'How many times have we seen this same tired act from him?' DCCC Spokesperson Madison Andrus said. While federal funding accounts for only a fraction of the budget for national independent public news organizations, it does help smaller, often rural, local affiliate stations afford to operate in places the free market might not serve. The impact of the cuts on Nebraska Public Media could be significant, up to 16% of its annual budget, which could put essential services, including emergency alert systems, at risk, the organization has said. NPM is responsible for most public TV and radio stations in the state. It receives approximately $4 million in federal funding, representing roughly 16% of its annual budget. Nebraska Public Media is tasked with live-streaming the legislative session and public hearings on bills. NPM also covers state government daily during legislative sessions. NPM also broadcasts and streams local high school and college sports. It also issues essential vital alerts for severe storms and other emergencies. The state funds roughly 44% of the NPM budget, according to information published on the NPM website. Nebraska Public Media officials said they were 'disappointed in the outcome of this vote' as 'clawing back funding already approved by Congress threatens the core mission of public media, especially in rural areas.' 'These aren't just numbers on a spreadsheet,' NPM General Manager and CEO Stacey Decker said. 'Federal investment underpins the journalism we produce, the educational resources we share with children and families, the remarkable stories we tell about our state.' KIOS, a smaller Omaha public radio station that Omaha Public Schools operates, received approximately $154,000 this year in federal funding. Omaha Public Schools officials decline to comment on the vote but are monitoring the potential impact on the station. Flood, in a joint statement with the House Main Street caucus, said the rescission package 'codifies important spending cuts identified by the Trump administration.' 'This package ends funding for foreign programs that are antithetical to American values, stops woke gender and climate programs and reins in wasteful spending,' the statement reads. Flood in May echoed criticisms of NPR's national bias but defended the value Nebraska Public Media provides locally in previous Examiner reporting. Smith called the package another 'step toward fiscal responsibility.' 'I will continue working with the administration and my colleagues to follow through on spending priorities overwhelmingly supported by the American people at the ballot box last November,' Smith said. This story contains some information from a States Newsroom D.C. Bureau report. Editor's Note: Nebraska Examiner Reporter Juan Salinas II interned at KERA, an NPR station serving North Texas. SUBSCRIBE: GET THE MORNING HEADLINES DELIVERED TO YOUR INBOX
