The Director-General of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), Jean Kaseya, announced on Sunday that African leaders will be mobilizing support for the renewal of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a crucial US program aimed at combating the spread of HIV/AIDS.
PEPFAR, launched in 2003, plays a significant role in funding HIV testing, counselling, and life-saving treatment worldwide. Despite enjoying broad support in the US Congress, the program’s formal renewal for another five years has been stalled due to contentious issues surrounding abortion.
Speaking at the African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa, Kaseya stressed the urgency of re-authorizing PEPFAR, emphasizing the devastating impact of HIV/AIDS on young people and its detrimental effects on economic growth and development.
Former US President George W. Bush initiated PEPFAR, contributing $16 billion annually to Africa’s anti-AIDS efforts. The program has been instrumental in saving millions of lives, but concerns have been raised about potential setbacks if funding is reduced.
The United Nations has highlighted a significant shortfall in the HIV prevention response, with millions of people still lacking access to life-saving treatment, particularly in eastern and southern Africa. Despite progress, the UN’s goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 remains a challenge.
Kaseya expressed confidence that Africa remains on track to achieve this goal and announced plans for a summit later in the year to address funding issues. However, without reauthorization, concerns persist regarding the long-term commitment of the US to PEPFAR and its impact on health providers and donor nations.
