John Dramani Mahama has expressed concern over the future of HIV treatment for millions of people in South Africa following the suspension of United States support under the PEPFAR initiative.
Addressing delegates at the 79th World Health Assembly in Geneva, President Mahama said approximately 1.4 million South Africans living with HIV now face uncertainty regarding the continuity of their treatment.
“In South Africa, the abrupt withdrawal of PEPFAR has shut clinics, terminated gender-based violence programmes, and left 1.4 million people living with HIV uncertain about their treatment continuity,” he stated.
The President further warned that declining international health funding could have devastating long-term consequences across Africa.
“We were told that by 2030, 9 million preventable deaths could occur due to these shifts,” he added.
President Mahama noted that cuts in foreign aid were creating major challenges for African countries that continue to depend heavily on external assistance to support critical healthcare programmes.
“It is estimated that the direct consequences of this aid suspension could push about 5.7 million Africans into poverty by the end of 2026,” he said.
According to the President, the situation in South Africa highlights the broader vulnerability of health systems across the continent amid declining global health support.
He has been advocating greater health sovereignty for countries in the Global South, urging African governments to strengthen domestic healthcare financing systems and reduce dependence on foreign aid.
The World Health Assembly is the decision-making body of the World Health Organization and brings together global leaders, health ministers and policymakers to deliberate on major international health challenges and reforms.
