"8,000 South African HIV Healthcare Workers Lose Jobs After U.S. Support Halted"

South African Health Minister Holds Press Conference
Trump Blocks PEPFAR Funding Upon Taking Office

Due to the suspension of U.S. support, 8,000 healthcare workers in South Africa's Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) and Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (AIDS) programs have lost their jobs.

According to the local daily The Citizen on the 16th (local time), South African Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi stated at a press conference the previous day that the Donald Trump administration has halted its annual funding of approximately $436 million (about 608.9 billion won) for South Africa's HIV/AIDS programs.

After completing his Middle East tour and leaving Abu Dhabi, President Donald Trump boarded Air Force One. Photo by AFP Yonhap News

Upon taking office in January, President Trump temporarily suspended U.S. foreign aid and blocked the transfer of funds for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which is considered one of the world's most successful overseas aid programs. This funding accounted for about 17% of the annual budget of South Africa's HIV/AIDS programs, which totals $2.5 billion (about 3.5 trillion won).

Minister Motsoaledi reported that there are 271,606 healthcare workers in South Africa's HIV/AIDS programs across 27 regions nationwide. He added, "Of the 15,539 workers supported by PEPFAR, 8,061 have lost their jobs."

Minister Motsoaledi emphasized that the HIV/AIDS programs continue to operate with the remaining personnel and infrastructure. He stated, "The remaining 7,478 workers are still employed at least until September this year, as they are funded by the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), and they are performing their duties as usual."

Minister Motsoaledi expressed concern over recent local media reports suggesting that South Africa's HIV/AIDS programs are collapsing following the suspension of U.S. support. He reiterated, "Despite significant staff reductions, most of the programs are still being maintained." He also noted that although 12 specialized HIV clinics operated by South African NGOs and funded by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) have closed, efforts are underway to register more than 60,000 patients who had been treated at these clinics with state health facilities.

According to UNAIDS, there are approximately 7.7 million people living with HIV in South Africa. Nearly 6 million of them are receiving treatment through the HIV/AIDS programs.

Minister Motsoaledi stated that although he is seeking support from other governments and relief organizations, no new funding has been secured. However, he declared, "Under no circumstances will we allow this program to collapse and disappear in the wake of President Trump's decision."