In February, US President Donald Trumpâs decision to discontinue funding for HIV trials led to the suspension of numerous health initiatives across Africa. Researchers like Patrick Arbuthnot at the University of the Witwatersrand faced significant setbacks, having invested time and resources into the development of an HIV vaccine. The cuts halted crucial work in HIV clinics, particularly affecting vulnerable populations and resulting in job losses for health workers. The abrupt funding cuts underscore the dependency of Southern African countries on US support in combating HIV and other major diseases.
It seemed like it was all just for nothing. Dozens of health trials across Africa were forced to grind to an abrupt halt in late January after US President Donald Trump pulled the plug on millions of dollars in funding without warning.
His executive order paused aid to developing countries provided through the US aid agency, USAID, and PEPFAR, pending a three-month review period.
Southern African countries, with the most HIV cases globally, had leaned heavily on the US to fight the pandemic... With the cuts, HIV clinics serving vulnerable populations suddenly shut down.
Itâs all such a waste, itâs all such a waste. Those were the words that kept running in my head when I saw the message.
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