African Union Pushes For Greater Domestic Spending On Health Amid Reports Of Huge Disruptions To HIV And TB Services
The African Union is urging increased domestic health spending following reports of significant disruptions to HIV and tuberculosis services. Studies indicate that changes to U.S. PEPFAR funding have led to facility closures and reduced access to life-saving treatments across several African nations.
Why it matters
The funding crisis threatens decades of progress in managing HIV and TB, potentially leading to a resurgence of these diseases in vulnerable populations.
The African Union held a special health summit this week, primarily aimed at mobilising high-level political support for more domestic health spending – particularly on HIV, tuberculosis and maternal health.
The summit coincided with the release of two new studies reporting on the huge disruptions to HIV and tuberculosis treatment throughout the world following the Trump administration’s changes to the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
Some 1,714 HIV service sites had closed, including over 1,000 public health facilities, according to the PEPFAR Pulse Study conducted by the Foundation for AIDS Research (amfAR).
AmfAR’s study, based on a survey of 166 PEPFAR implementing partners in 46 countries, found more than half had at least one grant terminated while over three-quarters had to restrict their work.
Partners reported that they were unable to obtain condoms (23%), pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to prevent HIV (22%) or antiretroviral drugs (20%).
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