PEPFAR gap ‘likely’ to be closed by fiscus, says Mashatile
Deputy President Paul Mashatile says the government might use money from the national fiscus to close the gap left by the withdrawal of the US in the fight against HIV/Aids.
Earlier this year, US President Donald Trump slashed his country’s foreign aid funding, including to South Africa.
The US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) supported numerous programmes focusing on prevention, counselling and monitoring and amounted to 17 per cent of South Africa's overall HIV response.
Mashatile answered questions in the National Assembly on Thursday afternoon.
"I want to reassure this House that our government is currently taking measures to prevent the negative effects that could result from the withdrawal of the PEPFAR," he told MPs.
"The national and provincial departments of Health have a contingency plan to address the gaps resulting from this funding withdrawal to sustain the delivery of health services,
"The Minister of Health is engaging with the Minister of Finance to discuss the possibility of funding these gaps from the fiscus," Mashatile said.
Mashatile said the South African National AIDS Council has approached the National Lotteries Commission and the SANAC Private Sector Forum to garner further funding support.
"The National Lotteries Commission has submitted a funding application for the ‘Close the Gap’ HIV Treatment Campaign and the ‘End TB Campaign’, which is being considered under its discretionary emergency funding,” he added.
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