Sa Seeks New Hiv Funding As Motsoaledi Declares 'trump Owes Us Nothing'

The South African government has begun urgent discussions with local and international funding organisations to address a budget shortfall in its HIV treatment programme after US President Donald Trump halted nearly 440 million in aid from the US President's Emergency Plan For AIDS Relief PEPFAR.

Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told MPs on Thursday that the government was in talks with multiple funders, including the Gates Foundation, the Clinton Health Access Initiative, and UK's Foreign and Commonwealth Development Office, but no commitments had been secured yet.

I want to emphasise to you that there's no government or funder in the world that has put money aside waiting for Trump to explode. That's why we're meeting them but none of them are yet saying we're giving you this much. Now I believe then that Trump does not owe us any cent. Trump doesn't owe South Africa any cent whatsoever. And for that reason, we need to stand on our own, the minister said.

He also suggested a review of subsidies for private medical aid schemes amid financial constraints.

We must not waste this crisis.