US Aid Cuts Halt HIV Programs, Increase Risks in Africa

The Trump administration's decision to freeze and cut foreign aid funding, including for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has severely impacted HIV/AIDS treatment programs in Africa, leading to medication shortages and increased fear among patients. Women like Liemiso Leteba in Lesotho, who relied on pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) injections for discreet protection against HIV, have faced program disruptions due to halted US funding. In Uganda and Zimbabwe, patients such as Hadja and James struggle to access lifesaving antiretroviral drugs, with some facing deteriorating health and fear for their children's futures. Despite a waiver intended to maintain life-saving care, supply chains have not been restored, causing confusion and suffering on the ground. The cuts have reversed progress made under successful initiatives launched in the early 2000s, pushing the global fight against AIDS backwards and threatening to triple death tolls by 2030. Trump has defended the aid cuts, citing concerns over American interests and European countries' contributions, but the humanitarian consequences continue to deepen across affected communities.