Health minister, Selibe Mochoboroane has reassured the nation that the country will not falter in its fight against HIV/AIDS, despite the US government’s decision to halt foreign assistance.
Mochoboroane said the government remains committed to providing antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) to all 240,000 patients currently receiving treatment in the country, assuring that the HIV treatment programme will not be disrupted.
This comes after US President Donald Trump recently signed executive orders enacting a 90-day pause on foreign assistance and also pulling his country from the World Health Organisation.
According to Mochoboroane, Trump’s order does not endanger Lesotho’s ARV supply as 73 percent of medication is procured directly by the government and an additional 23 percent provided by the Global Fund.
“Since the Global Fund is not covered by President Trump’s executive orders, the ARV supply chain remains intact,” Mochoboroane said in Maseru yesterday at an event to commemorate World Cancer Day.
However, the US’ decision to pull out of the WHO could have adverse effects on Lesotho’s health sector as the economic giant contributes 18 percent ($500million) of the WHO’s budget.
This would significantly reduce the funding the WHO provides to countries like Lesotho, which received M30 million last year.
Mochoboroane further indicated that the existing supply of HIV and TB testing commodities, as well as the capacity of laboratories, will only be able to sustain testing efforts for eight months, if the US aid freeze persists.
Despite the potential setbacks to the country’s public health system, Mochoboroane divulged some positive news, announcing that the US had agreed to waive the termination of employment for 1,500 health workers initially funded by USAID. The health workers who had been helping to manage HIV and TB cases in the country, will continue to receive support.
