Uncertainty around PEPFAR program puts millions of people at risk
From Doctors Without Boarders…
“More than three weeks since the US government froze PEPFAR funding, there is still widespread confusion and uncertainty as to whether this critical lifeline for millions of people has been cut off,” said Avril Benoît, chief executive officer of MSF USA. “Despite a limited waiver covering some activities, what our teams are seeing in many of the countries where we work is that people have already lost access to lifesaving care and have no idea whether or when their treatment will continue. MSF is calling on the US government to immediately resume funding for the full range of PEPFAR operations as well as other critical health and humanitarian aid.”
On February 1, after over a week of chaos and a freeze of activities, the US government issued a limited waiver allowing for the resumption of some programming with specific guidance for HIV. However, that guidance was unclear, and it did not immediately reach PEPFAR country teams. Across our broad network, MSF did not see a single organization able to resume work as a result of this limited guidance on waivers. On February 6, the US government issued clarified guidance on HIV care and treatment and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) programs.