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The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has welcomed the decision by the United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, to approve an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver” allowing continued access to HIV treatment for millions of people globally.
According to the press release made available by UNAIDS, the waiver ensures that life-saving medication funded by the United States remains available in 55 countries, benefiting over 20 million people living with HIV including Nigeria.
This emergency measure follows a recent executive order imposing a 90-day funding pause on all United States foreign assistance, including support provided through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). The halt on foreign aid funding, one of the first major foreign policy decisions by the new administration, is aimed at assessing programmatic efficiencies and alignment with US foreign policy. However, the waiver now permits the continuation of essential medical services, including HIV treatment and the necessary supplies to sustain such assistance.
Reacting to the development, UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, commended the decision, emphasising its critical role in sustaining HIV care. “UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the US government, which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV medication during the assessment of US foreign development assistance,”
“This urgent decision recognises PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV” she stated.
Reassuring the global audience of continual healthcare delivery, she said, “UNAIDS is serving in its essential role to mobilise and convene partners, governments, and communities across the globe at the country level to assess and mitigate the impact of the pause on the continuity of essential HIV services.
“UNAIDS will continue efforts to ensure that all people living with or affected by HIV are served and that other key components of PEPFAR’s life-saving efforts, including service delivery and services for HIV prevention, care, and support for orphans and vulnerable children are continued.
“UNAIDS has encouraged President Donald J. Trump to prioritise the U.S. Government’s leadership in the global HIV response to achieve the shared goal of ending AIDS” she concluded