South Africa Says AIDS Drugs Available Despite US Funding Cut
A patient holds a medication used for the treatment of HIV infection in Mbombela, South Africa.
Photographer: Phill Magakoe/AFP/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
South Africa’s government said its HIV-AIDS treatment program is fully funded for the current financial year despite the withdrawal of support from the US, and all patients should continue to receive their medication.
About 7.8 million South Africans, or almost 13% of the population, live with the virus that causes AIDS — the world’s biggest HIV epidemic. About 17% of the funding for the country’s HIV-AIDS program has come from America’s Presidential Emergency Funding for Aids Relief, or Pepfar, but President Donald Trump suspended that program in January, meaning 7.5 billion rand ($414 million) needs to be found to plug the gap.