MOTSOALEDI DISMISSES HIV PROGRAMME COLLAPSE CLAIMS

Sat 17 May 2025:

Despite claims that HIV testing and monitoring across South Africa have dropped following the withdrawal of US funding, Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi has dismissed suggestions that the country’s HIV/AIDS programme is falling apart.

The Minister was responding to reports which stated that services have declined after cuts to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Vulnerable groups, such as pregnant women, infants, and young people, were said to be the most affected.

Motsoaledi confirmed that South Africa lost R7.9 billion in support from PEPFAR. However, he explained that this amount forms part of a much larger R46.8 billion annual budget.

“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 President Trump will immediately lead to a collapse of the entire programme,” he said.

He added that the government had expected challenges following the cut and had already taken steps to manage them.

“It’s wrong to say the campaign of the HIV/AIDS programme in South Africa is collapsing, because it’s not. The fact that we’ve picked up this plan … shows that we know something can go wrong,” he said.

The government has launched weekly provincial meetings to monitor progress and partnered with civil society to reach over 500,000 people. They’ve also secured R1 billion from the Global Fund and held roadshows with healthcare workers and local AIDS councils.

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Government Response to Clinic Closures

Moreover, Motsoaledi addressed the closure of 12 specialised clinics that PEPFAR supported. Around 63,000 patient files have been transferred to public facilities. Over 1,000 clinicians and 2,300 support staff have been trained across seven provinces.

He assured the public that ARV supply remains stable, with 90% funded by the State. “I would also like to believe that every single South African… has a wish and a desire to end the scourge of HIV and AIDS as a public health threat at least by 2030.”

Motsoaledi stressed the government’s ongoing commitment to tackling HIV and pointed to key progress indicators. He noted that life expectancy rose from 54.7 years in 2010 to 66.5 in 2024, maternal mortality declined sharply, and HIV-positive births dropped from 70,000 in 2004 to just 643 in 2025.

written by Thaabit Kamaar

This article originally published in Salaamedia click here