US Senate blocks PEPFAR cuts, but many SA HIV programmes remain unfunded

CapeTalk's Lester Kiewit speaks to Mia Malan, the Founder and Editor-in-Chief of Bhekisisa.

Listen below:

The United States (US) Senate has voted to spare the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) from a proposed $400 million slash. 

But what does this political reprieve mean for South Africa’s HIV programmes on the ground?

Malan says as it currently stands, the move does not mean any of the Africa-based programmes which were affected will restart:

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"That money isn't the same money that was taken away from Africa when the programmes closed down...it's money that wasn't yet allocated to specific projects."

- Mia Malan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief - Bhekisisa

Trump didn't approve of the way funds were being spent, says Malan.

So he imposed a waiver, which largely denies funding to groups which support sex workers and trans people.

"The only HIV prevention he says we're allowed to do with US money is to give pregnant and breastfeeding women medication to prevent them infecting their babies. The rest of it is still not allowed." 

- Mia Malan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief - Bhekisisa

While it may not impact South African projects in the short term, in the long term, says Malan, it shows that advocacy is starting to pay off in the US.

"Because there was opposition in the Republican Party against President Trump to say we want to protect PEPFAR, don't put it in the rescissions package."

- Mia Malan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief - Bhekisisa

Additionally, says Malan, Trump had sought to cut 40% of funding to PEPFAR in the forthcoming budget in October.

"It seems like the House of Representatives, with the budget they are in the process of compiling, said, no, we don't want to cut next year's budget."

- Mia Malan, Founder and Editor-in-Chief - Bhekisisa

Scroll up to listen to the full conversation from Good Morning Cape Town.