JOHANNESBURG, June 21 (Xinhua) -- South Africa's Department of Health on Sunday assured the public that the country has measures in place to sustain its HIV/AIDS response following the complete withdrawal of funding from the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
In a statement, the department said it had received formal correspondence from the U.S. government regarding the termination of PEPFAR funding, although it had initially learned about the move through media reports.
"The department has long been working on a self-reliance plan to minimize the impact of funding withdrawal since the initial freeze on foreign assistance and the cancellation of USAID grants in January 2025," said the statement, adding that there is no need for the public to panic because the transition plan has long been developed, and the implementation has been ongoing.
The department stressed that public health facilities remain fully accessible, including for patients who previously relied on PEPFAR-funded clinics.
South African Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi is expected to attend the United Nations High-Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS scheduled for June 22-23, where financing for global HIV/AIDS responses will be among the issues under discussion. ■