by AKANI CHAUKE
JOHANNESBURG, (CAJ News) – EXPERTS warn that 500 000 children could die from AIDS-related causes by 2030 without the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
It is further estimated that 1 million additional children could become infected with HIV and as many as 2,8 million children could become orphaned in the next five years if PEPFAR programmes are reduced or eliminated.
This is in the face of ongoing funding disruptions to US foreign assistance programmes.
“The future of PEPFAR programmes hangs in the balance,” said Prof Lucie Cluver of the University of Oxford.
Cluver is co-lead author of the new Health Policy analysis, “Protecting Africa’s children from extreme risk: a runway of sustainability for PEPFAR programmes “, published in The Lancet
“Losing stable, long-term support for PEPFAR programmes sets global progress to end HIV/AIDS back to the dark ages of the epidemic, especially for children and adolescents,” Cluver said.
PEPFAR, established by the US government in 2003, has been a cornerstone in addressing the global HIV/AIDS epidemic, providing over $120 billion in funding to treat and prevent HIV/AIDS.
The programme is estimated to have saved more than 26 million lives and ensured 7,8 million babies were born HIV-free. It currently supports over 20 million people with HIV prevention and treatment services, primarily in sub-Saharan Africa.
Despite PEPFAR receiving a limited waiver to continue some programmes, many of PEPFAR’s services have been disrupted or suspended since January 20.
This followed President Donald Trump’s executive order pausing all foreign aid for 90 days pending a review.
– CAJ News