Trump hurts SA's Aids war

ROADBLOCK: STOPS USAID, PEPFAR FUNDS TO HIV CLINICS

- Thando Nondywana

The shutdown of USAID and the US President's Emergency Plan for Aids Relief-funded clinics in South Africa has sparked serious concerns about the future of HIV treatment and adherence.

US President Donald Trump has issued an executive order to stop foreign help, affecting Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar) funding from going to clinics, hospitals and other organisations in low-income countries.

South Africa has received more than R8 billion to fight HIV/ Aids through Pepfar since its inception in 2003.

The Treatment Action Campaign's Anele Yawa said this decision could result in a spike in new HIV infections.

"What's happening is a global crisis, which negatively impacts our response to HIV and Aids.

"Some access their treatment at health care facilities, while others rely on external pickup points.

"Now, at clinic level, we face a dire shortage of human resources. It means our clinics will be congested as people previously relying on external pickup points, like pharmacies in malls, return to clinics. This will strain an already overburdened health care system," he said.