China steps in to fund SA's HIV fight

Chinese government says this isn't an attempt to capture the South African government but an initiative meant to help South Africans

- Lunga Mzangwe

Following the cutting of UNAIDS funding by the United States government earlier this year, the Chinese government has provided $3.49 million to expand HIV prevention services in South Africa.

The two-year project, which will commence in January 2026, aims to strengthen HIV prevention and harm-reduction services in South Africa by expanding access to HIV prevention programmes for adolescents and young people in 16 Technical and Vocational Education and Training colleges located in high-burden districts across seven provinces.

UNAIDS will implement the project in collaboration with the China International Center for Economic and Technical Exchanges; the Departments of Health, Higher Education and Training, and Correctional Services; the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime; WHO; and Higher Health.

In January, the US government slashed all foreign assistance.

According to the Department of Health's Consolidated Impact Assessment report, the three provinces most affected by the cuts to HIV and TB prevention services are the Western Cape, North West and Gauteng.

The closure of key population clinics disrupted access to routine services, including PrEP, and clients had to be referred to public health facilities.