By Faith Anene, Kakamega
A move by US President Donald Trump through an Executive Order to halt the supply of lifesaving drugs for HIV, malaria, and tuberculosis has had severe consequences for countries dependent on U.S. aid, including Kenya.
The abrupt cessation of the PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) program, a critical initiative in the fight against HIV, leaves a significant void in funding for vital treatment and prevention efforts.
A memo distributed to contractors and partners working with USAID ordered an immediate suspension of work, part of a larger freeze on U.S. aid and funding that took effect following Trump’s inauguration on January 20.
According to PEPFAR, more than 20 million people are set to lose access to antiretroviral (ARV) treatment, a service that has been supporting these individuals in managing their HIV infection based on country-specific guidelines and health needs.
Among the hardest-hit countries are South Africa (101,368 people affected), Mozambique (25,932), Kenya (17,229), Tanzania (15,115), Uganda (14,015), Nigeria (11,077), and Zimbabwe (10,325).
In 2024 alone, PEPFAR facilitated 83,223,512 HIV tests, averaging 228,010 tests per day. This led to approximately 4,538 new daily diagnoses and 4,509 people starting treatment daily. With the suspension of these programs, the impact on HIV prevention and treatment will be felt profoundly.
The memo also indicates that, on days when work is suspended, there will be an estimated 1,471 new HIV infections among infants. In FY 2024, PEPFAR provided HIV testing to 660,024 babies born to mothers living with HIV, equating to approximately 1,808 babies tested per day.
Additionally, PEPFAR has supported over 271,000 healthcare workers delivering direct services, including clinical officers, nurses, midwives, laboratory technicians, pharmacists, and community health workers. These professionals, responsible for nearly 191,000 full-time equivalent positions, have been ordered to halt all clinical services and cease reporting to health clinics.
The program also supported cervical cancer screening, diagnosis, and treatment for women living with HIV. In 2024, PEPFAR facilitated screening for 2,614,743 women and diagnosed 55,195 cases of cervical cancer or precancerous lesions. This equates to 7,164 women screened and 363 diagnoses made each day.
