Trump's suspension of foreign aid: 'SA should learn from this, become more self-sufficient'

Gugs Mhlungu spoke to Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO.

Listen to their conversation in the audio clip below.

“Does it make America safer? Does it make America stronger? Does it make America more prosperous?”

These are the three key questions that need to be addressed when justifying foreign assistance, according to United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio.

His comments came after President Donald Trump recently signed an executive order suspending US foreign aid for 90 days while a review is conducted to determine its alignment with Trump’s policy goals.

Since signing the order, the US government has revised its decision, stating that lifesaving treatments and medications will be exempt from the withdrawal of foreign aid.

ALSO READ: Motsoaledi says more than 15,000 SA health workers will be affected by US move to halt HIV/AIDS funding 

Meanwhile, South Africa's Health Department has announced plans to ensure that the withdrawal of US funding does not undermine the country’s progress in fighting HIV/Aids.

South Africa is one of many countries that have benefited from aid through the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi warned that about 15,000 health workers will not receive their salaries if the aid is withdrawn.

Nyati stresses that Africa needs to explore ways to self-fund programmes that are vital to its people.

"We should learn from this experience. We should try to be self-sufficient, as much as possible as a country because when there are foreign nations that can just decide on a whim to say, you know what, we are cutting funding, we don't want it to be like that because often they do this because they want to push their own agenda which may not always be in the interest of our country." 

- Dr Fundile Nyati, GP and Proactive Health Solutions CEO

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