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In response to questioning at the
National Council of Provinces, Deputy President Kgalema Motlanthe of South
Africa announced that the country will continue to receive the same amount of
funding from the United States AIDS relief program for the next two years;
however, funds will be reduced from 2014-2017.
The US President’s Emergency Plan
for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has funded South Africa’s response to HIV. In 2010,
the US Congress decided to reduce PEPFAR funding to all countries. As a result,
South Africa’s assistance will be reduced significantly over a five-year
period.
Deputy President Motlanthe explained
that during his visit to the 19th International AIDS Conference in Washington
DC, he met with members of Congress and was successful in his request that
PEPFAR funding levels be maintained for the next two years. South Africa will
then have time to plan for the transition of services.
There will be a 50 percent reduction
in funding in the years 2014-2017, from US $460 million to US $250 million. The
United States reacted favorably to South Africa’s successful response to HIV
and AIDS and the country's increases in domestic allocation to the HIV and TB
National Strategic plan. Thus, the United States has committed to continue
supporting prevention programs, strengthening health systems, and providing
assistance for orphans and vulnerable children.
The US government also committed to
providing support for new evidence-based programs, if South Africa presents a
strong case and applies for new resources.
The Friends of AIDS Foundation is
dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for HIV positive individuals and
empowering people to make healthy choices to prevent the spread of the HIV
virus. To learn more about The Friends of AIDS Foundation, please visit: http://www.friendsofaids.org.
TOGETHER WE REMAIN STRONG!
