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16h ago

U.S. Approves $115 Million PEPFAR Bridge to Maintain HIV Services in South Africa

Officials say the stopgap restores HIV services in South Africa, with longer-term U.S. funding plans still unsettled.

FILE - Demonstrators protest against cuts to American foreign aid spending, including USAID and the PEPFAR program to combat HIV/AIDS, at the Cannon House Office Building on Capitol Hill, Wednesday, Feb. 26, 2025, in Washington. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)
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Overview

  • South Africa’s cabinet said the six-month bridge, worth $115 million, runs from October 1, 2025 to March 31, 2026 to keep services continuous.
  • The plan is designed to support uninterrupted treatment and prevention by prioritizing country-specific needs and life-saving impact.
  • The approval follows a 2025 U.S. funding freeze and grant terminations that triggered more than 8,000 health-worker layoffs and the closure of 12 NGO-run HIV clinics.
  • Minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni welcomed the move as a positive sign for bilateral ties, while noting that broader arrangements are still being worked out.
  • Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi said a U.S. delegation signaled a shift in PEPFAR with possible country-by-country transitions of up to five years, and the U.S. previously supplied over $400 million a year, about 17% of South Africa’s HIV funding.