South Africa Faces Potential US Funding Shift as China Increases HIV Prevention Support
South Africa is navigating a complex landscape regarding HIV funding, as a political dispute threatens future grants from the United States while China steps up its financial commitment to the country’s HIV prevention efforts.
The US government has not scheduled a meeting wiht South Africa to discuss the continuation of its HIV grant funding through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) beyond April 2026. Unlike other African nations, South Africa has not received an invitation to discuss new Memorandums of Understanding outlining terms for continued PEPFAR support. Furthermore,the US has indicated it will not supply South Africa with lenacapavir,a long-acting HIV prevention medication,amidst the ongoing political tensions.
Concurrently, the People’s Republic of China has announced a US$3.49 million (approximately 60 million South African rand) two-year funding partnership to bolster HIV services in South Africa.The funding,provided through the China Global Development and South-South Cooperation Fund and facilitated by UNAIDS,aims to strengthen South africa’s efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat.
This new support will specifically target HIV prevention services for populations at highest risk, including young people aged 15-24 – who account for over a third of new infections - and people who inject drugs, where HIV prevalence is 7% higher than in the general population.
South Africa currently carries the world’s largest HIV epidemic,with approximately 8 million people living with the virus. The combined impact of potential US funding shifts and increased support from China will be crucial in determining the future trajectory of HIV prevention and treatment in the country.
