The United States, through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has been a key player in providing foreign aid to millions of people living with HIV for over two decades. However, the recent decision by the Trump administration to put a hold on foreign aid, citing wastefulness, has caused chaos in the system and left many vulnerable individuals without access to life-saving medications.
The United Nations AIDS agency has warned that without adequate support, the world could see a resurgence in AIDS-related deaths, with 6.3 million deaths projected in the next five years. This comes at a time when complacency around HIV is rising, condom use is falling among young people, and hopes for a medication to end AIDS are growing.
Stopping HIV drugs can have devastating effects on the body, leading to immune system collapse and leaving individuals susceptible to opportunistic diseases such as pneumonia, tuberculosis, and fungal infections. Without proper treatment, people with AIDS typically survive only about three years, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.
The halt in foreign aid has already led to layoffs of US-funded health partners in countries like Kenya and Ethiopia, causing disruptions in HIV testing and care. Restoring the effects of this decision and understanding the implications of the waiver for PEPFAR will take time that many individuals with HIV may not have.
The global community is now faced with the urgent task of addressing the consequences of the foreign aid freeze and ensuring continued support for those living with HIV to prevent a resurgence of AIDS-related deaths.
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