Several HIV treatment clinics in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape, funded by the US government, temporarily closed down this week after receiving stop-work orders from the new Trump administration.
Waivers have since been announced for projects handing out lifesaving medicines, but the waivers don’t contain lists of drugs that qualify, so everyone is confused as to whether their projects qualify.
New York-based advocacy organisation Avac’s Mitchell Warren tells Mia Malan waivers won’t fix the trust that’s been broken down.
Projects, even if they qualified for waivers, will now be reassessed to see if they align with the Trump administration’s ideologies, which include condemning abortions and discriminating against transgender people.
LISTEN | Weaponising aid: the cruel ways of #Trump2025
Waivers have been announced for projects handing out lifesaving medicines, but everyone’s confused as to whether their projects qualify
Image: REUTERS/Carlos Barria
Several HIV treatment clinics in Cape Town, Johannesburg and the Eastern Cape, funded by the US government, temporarily closed down this week after receiving stop-work orders from the new Trump administration.
Waivers have since been announced for projects handing out lifesaving medicines, but the waivers don’t contain lists of drugs that qualify, so everyone is confused as to whether their projects qualify.
New York-based advocacy organisation Avac’s Mitchell Warren tells Mia Malan waivers won’t fix the trust that’s been broken down.
Projects, even if they qualified for waivers, will now be reassessed to see if they align with the Trump administration’s ideologies, which include condemning abortions and discriminating against transgender people.
• Mia Malan is the founder and editor-in-chief of Bhekisisa. She has worked in newsrooms in Johannesburg, Nairobi and Washington, DC, winning more than 30 awards for her radio, print and television work.
• Danny Booysen is a freelance audio technical producer and has more than 30 years of experience in the broadcast industry.
• Yolanda Mdzeke is a multimedia reporter at Bhekisisa.
This story was produced by the Bhekisisa Centre for Health Journalism. Sign up for the newsletter.
READ MORE:
Trump order set to halt supply of HIV, malaria drugs to poor countries
Fate of SA’s HIV/Aids projects up in the air
USAID suspension: experts say no need to panic yet, government on standby to take over affected patients
POLL | Do you think SA’s health system could survive without US-funded programmes?
Trump 2.0 instils fear in African abortion activists
Rural areas need these health workers — so does the NHI
Would you like to comment on this article?
Sign up (it's quick and free) or sign in now.
Please read our Comment Policy before commenting.
Most read
Latest Videos