By Arnold Ageta
The African-led HIV Control Working Group (AHCWG) added its voice on American President Donald Trump’s decision to halt critical foreign aid to developing countries.
In particular, the group took issue with the suspended Presidents Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
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The 90-day freeze, implemented as from January 20th, 2025, has sent shockwaves globally, jeopardizing the lives of millions dependent on PEPFAR for HIV treatment and prevention.
“The impact of the Executive Order on PEPFAR-supported programs is like dropping a bombshell,” read the press release.
The statement said that this one event had destroyed decades of trust and security among people living with HIV (PLHIV) and threatened fragile health systems built by PEPFAR that supported the response to COVID-19, Ebola, and recently the Mpox outbreak.
PEPFAR which was launched in 2004 has been instrumental in combating the HIV/AIDS pandemic globally, saving over 26 million lives and providing life-saving treatment to over 20 million.
Trump’s order is likely to reverse years of progress particularly in African, which heavily relies on the program.
The AHCWG highlights the particularly devastating impact on high-risk populations excluded from the limited PEPFAR waiver, such as adolescent girls, young women, same sex partners, and sex workers.
The AHCWGs statement further expresses concern not only about the immediate crisis but also about the long-term implications of the over-reliance on external funding for vital health services.
“The 90-day limbo for the future of HIV care and treatment programs is intolerable, with long-lasting consequences,” the statement emphasized.
The AHCWG is calling for four immediate actions: full reinstatement of PEPFAR funding; clear communication on future funding; African self-reliance; and strategic global collaboration.
African governments need to reevaluate the sustainability of their HIV programs and make bold decisions to sustain their HIV response, the press stated.
The group has asked African leaders to look inward for domestic solutions and funding to address this challenge including increasing health investments through domestic resources and local solutions to secure long-term health and wellbeing of millions of people across the continent.
The AHCWG, a think tank of African HIV and policy experts, is actively working to mitigate the effects of the Executive Order and to ensure the continued fight against HIV/AIDS across the continent.
The organization’s urgent call to action underscores the critical need for immediate and sustained investment in African healthcare systems.
