All articles tagged with #pepfar
The US has suspended some funding for its key HIV/AIDS relief program, PEPFAR, leading to disruptions in treatment and prevention efforts worldwide, with unclear impacts due to lack of data and ongoing budget disputes.
The U.S. Department of State announced a PEPFAR initiative to bring Gilead Sciences' breakthrough HIV drug lenacapavir to high-burden countries, aiming to reach up to 2 million people by 2028. The twice-yearly injectable medication, which has shown over 99% effectiveness in clinical trials, will be distributed with the support of the U.S. government and the Global Fund, at no profit from Gilead, to help prevent mother-to-child transmission and reduce HIV infections globally.
PEPFAR, the U.S. initiative to combat HIV/AIDS, narrowly avoided significant funding cuts in 2023, which caused disruptions in clinics and treatment programs worldwide. While the program's future remains uncertain due to expired authorization and shifting priorities, some experts see a renewed bipartisan commitment and a move towards increased international ownership, though challenges persist in maintaining progress against HIV/AIDS globally.
US Senate Republicans have agreed to exempt the HIV/AIDS program Pepfar from planned $400 million cuts, part of a broader effort to reduce government spending, which could impact global health efforts, especially in Africa. The amendment, supported by the White House, aims to preserve vital funding for HIV/AIDS relief, amid concerns over cuts to international aid and public broadcasting, with the bill awaiting further votes.
Senate Republicans are modifying a $9.4 billion spending cut package proposed by President Trump, notably removing $400 million from the PEPFAR HIV/AIDS program to secure enough votes for passage, with the aim of passing the bill before the Friday deadline and sending it to the House for approval.
Senate and House leaders are debating a Trump administration request to rescind $9.4 billion in spending, including funding for global AIDS programs like PEPFAR, with deadlines and procedural hurdles complicating approval. The package faces opposition from some GOP senators and House members, amid broader funding disputes and political considerations.
The UNAIDS report warns that recent sharp U.S. funding cuts, especially the withdrawal of PEPFAR support, threaten to reverse decades of progress in combating HIV/AIDS, risking millions of new infections and deaths, with significant impacts in South Africa and globally.
PEPFAR, a U.S. program established in 2003 to combat AIDS, has significantly reduced HIV/AIDS worldwide, saving millions of lives, but its future is uncertain due to proposed budget cuts by the Trump administration, raising concerns about reversing progress in global health efforts.
Ambassador John Nkengasong, head of PEPFAR, will resign as a political appointee when Donald Trump takes office, amid challenges in global HIV funding. PEPFAR, a bipartisan program since 2003, faces funding uncertainties due to political opposition and reduced donor contributions. With HIV funding declining, there's a push for increased domestic financing, though many countries struggle with debt and low revenue. Despite significant progress in reducing AIDS-related deaths, the fight against HIV remains fragile, requiring sustained treatment for millions.
Dr. John Nkengasong, a key figure in the US global AIDS program, reflects on the transformation of HIV care in Africa over the past 20 years through the President’s Emergency Relief Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Despite recent funding battles in Congress, PEPFAR has saved an estimated 25 million lives and significantly reduced AIDS-related deaths globally. Nkengasong's experiences in Africa during the 1990s, when the epidemic was rampant, contrast with the hope and progress brought by PEPFAR, highlighting the program's impact on HIV care, treatment, and prevention in vulnerable regions.
Former Senator Rick Santorum and Senator Ben Cardin are urging Republicans and Democrats to unite in reauthorizing the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a bipartisan program that has saved 25 million lives and prevented 5.5 million babies from being born HIV-positive. Despite allegations that PEPFAR supports abortion, the program's supporters emphasize that it is about saving lives and has provided stability, economic prosperity, and stronger relations with the United States in African nations. The obstruction of PEPFAR's reauthorization threatens its future role in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
Republicans and Democrats are calling on Congress to reauthorize the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a bipartisan program that has saved 25 million lives and prevented 5.5 million babies from being born HIV-positive. Former Senator Rick Santorum, a key figure in the program's early negotiations, advocates for continuing PEPFAR with the same bipartisan compromise. Senator Ben Cardin emphasizes that PEPFAR remains one of the most effective foreign assistance programs and refutes claims that it supports abortion. The program has trained healthcare workers, supported orphans, and strengthened relations with African nations. As the future of PEPFAR hangs in the balance, it is crucial to recognize its bipartisan origins and the need for continued leadership in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
Negotiations for the reauthorization of the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a successful U.S. global HIV/AIDS relief program, have reached a stalemate in Congress. The deadlock stems from a divide between Republicans who accuse the Biden administration of using PEPFAR to fund abortion providers overseas and House Democrats who refuse to reinstate Trump-era rules that prohibited foreign aid going to groups that provide or counsel on abortions. Talks have also stalled in the Senate, and the best hope for reauthorization now lies in the government spending process, which is expected to drag into early 2024. The 2024 election further complicates the issue, with some Republicans opposing a long-term reauthorization to prevent restrictions from being tied to a future conservative president. Without a long-term commitment, groups fighting HIV and AIDS worldwide will struggle to hire staff and launch long-term projects.
A small group of conservative House Republicans is blocking the reauthorization of the federally funded President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which provides HIV prevention, treatment, and education worldwide. They claim that the Biden administration is using the program to promote abortion overseas, despite no evidence supporting this. PEPFAR has been highly successful due to bipartisan support, adequate funding, and a data-driven approach. It has even utilized its infrastructure to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic. The opposition stems from partisan differences on abortion, with the repeal of the Mexico City Protocol being a key point of contention. While PEPFAR is established in permanent law, the expiration of certain requirements and specifications in its reauthorization raises concerns about the program's future and sends a symbolic message to partner countries.
Republicans have delayed over $1 billion in funding for the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a global HIV program credited with saving over 25 million lives. The funding delay stems from a political fight around abortion, with conservative advocacy groups claiming that PEPFAR is inadvertently funding abortions overseas. Republicans have placed holds on notifications required for allocating funds to PEPFAR, objecting to language related to abortion, transgender people, and sex workers. The funding delays threaten PEPFAR's ability to continue its lifesaving work, and public health experts are urging swift reauthorization of the program to protect it from political pressures.