Mashatile outlines strategies to counter Pepfar funding cuts

DEPUTY President Paul Mashatile yesterday outlined the various resources from other quarters being mobilised to plug the gap caused by the withdrawal of President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (Pepfar) funding.

- MAYIBONGWE MAQHINA

Responding to questions during the question session in the National Assembly, Mashatile assured parliamentarians that the government was currently taking measures to prevent the negative effects that could result from the withdrawal of US funding.

He noted that UNAIDS and other partners have indicated the funding withdrawal without adequate replacement could lead to significant increase in HIV-related deaths and new infections over the next decade.

"The abrupt withdrawal of the funding has resulted already in job losses and a negative impact on the national response to HIV, TB and sexually transmitted infections."

Mashatile said Science, Technology and Innovation minister Blade Nzimande has announced the establishment of a working group on science, technology and innovation funding to advise him on the implication and the impact of the recent withdrawal of funding particularly on key research and development programmes in the country.