Maseru
Health Minister Selibe Mochoboroane has reassured Basotho that the country’s battle against HIV/AIDS will remain on track, despite the US government’s decision to freeze foreign aid.
He affirmed that antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) will continue to be provided to all 240,000 patients currently receiving treatment in Lesotho, with no disruptions to the HIV programme expected.
This follows US President Donald Trump’s recent executive orders imposing a 90-day pause on foreign assistance and withdrawing the US from the World Health Organisation (WHO).
Mochoboroane clarified that Lesotho’s ARV supply is secure, as 73% of the drugs are funded by the government and 23% by the Global Fund, which is not affected by Trump’s executive orders.
“The ARV supply chain remains unaffected,” he said during an event in Maseru commemorating World Cancer Day on Wednesday this week.
However, he noted that the US withdrawal from WHO could impact Lesotho’s broader health sector, as the US contributes 18% ($500 million) of WHO’s budget.
Lesotho received M30 million from WHO last year, and any funding cuts could have serious consequences.
Mochoboroane also mentioned that Lesotho’s HIV and TB testing supplies and lab capacity could last only eight months if the US aid freeze continues.
On a positive note, the minister announced that the US had agreed to waive the termination of 1,500 health workers funded by USAID, ensuring continued support for managing HIV and TB cases in the country.
