SA won't beg USA for funding – Motsoaledi

SOUTH Africa will not beg the Trump administration to reinstate the US-backed programme that directly supported more than 16 000 health workers and played a key role in this country’s fight against HIV/AIDS, says Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi.

Motsoaledi assured South Africans that the country’s HIV/Aids programme was not at risk of collapsing due to the withdrawal of US foreign aid funding through the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar).

His remarks came a day after Reuters reported that funding cuts, particularly from the US, have been cited as the reason behind South Africa’s startling decline in viral load testing.

"At the present moment, all we can do is present our plans to funders. I have given you a long list of funders we have met. There is not a single one who said, ‘No, we will not help’. But up until today, there is not a single one who has come to the party. Either private funders or government around – there is not a single one," he said.

The Reuters report cited recent figures from the National Health Laboratory Service indicating  a concerning decline in viral load testing - a crucial measure that determines the amount of HIV virus present in the bloodstream of patients undergoing antiretroviral treatment.

Experts report a staggering 21% drop in testing rates among key demographics over the past two months, directly linking these reductions to the loss of US funding.

Viral load testing, according to experts, is essential for monitoring treatment effectiveness and suppressing the virus to lower transmission risks. Pregnant women, in particular, face increased risks of transmitting HIV during childbirth, while infants need timely diagnoses for their survivability in the face of this virus.

Viral load tests among people aged 15-24 reportedly fell by 17.2% in April compared to the same month the previous year, compounding a steady decline observed in March. Overall, testing across the population decreased by 11.4%, while the number of maternal tests sunk by 21.3%, raising alarms about the future health of mothers and children throughout the country.

However, Motsoaledi said: “It is inconceivable that out of R46.8 billion spent by the country on the HIV/AIDS programme, the withdrawal of R7.9 billion by (United States) President Trump will immediately lead to a collapse of the entire programme. We believe this is inconceivable. Ladies and gentlemen, we want to put this categorically clear that under no circumstances will we allow this massive work performed over a period of over a decade and a half to collapse and go up in smoke because President Trump has decided to do what he has done." 

Claire Waterhouse, head of Operational Support Unit at Doctors Without Borders, Southern Africa said the organisation was “very concerned” by the latest data from the NHLS showing significant drops in HIV testing and monitoring in South Africa. 

“Viral load testing is critical for keeping a finger on the pulse of the success of South Africa's HIV response, especially in vulnerable populations like pregnant and breastfeeding women, sex workers and LGBTQI communities.

"Early this year, MSF flagged its extreme worry about the potential impact of US funding cuts on HIV and TB responses in South Africa and globally, due to the far-reaching support previously provided by PEPFAR and USAID to governments, organisations and communities.

"It would be a realisation of some of our worst fears if what this latest data shows can be attributed to funding cuts. If this is indeed the case, we continue to urge governments, in this case the South African government in particular, and other potential donor countries and organisations to step up and urgently take measures to prevent the reversal of decades of progress in the fight against HIV.”

Treatment Action Campaign co-founder and anti-Aids activist Zackie Achmat disrupted the proceedings of a scheduled meeting of the Portfolio Committee on Health this week to highlight concerns regarding service delivery disruptions stemming from the withdrawal of PEPFAR funds. 

In a statement on Thursday, committee chairperson Dr Sibongiseni Dhlomo said MPs acknowledged the gravity of the concerns Achmat raised. The committee intends to meet with him in the coming weeks.

“Committee members emphasised their understanding that such funding cuts can lead to gaps in service delivery, adversely affecting vulnerable populations who rely on these services for their health and well-being…Before the planned meeting with Mr Achmat, the committee will engage with the Minister of Health, Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, on Friday, 16 May, to receive an update on the PEPFAR withdrawal. This engagement will allow the committee to gather relevant information and insights, ensuring that they have answers to the matters raised by Mr Achmat ready for their subsequent meeting. This engagement would help ensure that the committee is well-informed about the realities facing communities on the ground.”

Cape Times