The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the U.S. government’s decision to immediately pause funding for HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries.
In a statement, WHO said these programs provide life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide.
The funding pause, according to WHO, could significantly increase the risk of illness and death for those living with HIV and undermine efforts to prevent transmission within communities and countries.
WHO also warned that if the funding pause is prolonged, it could lead to a rise in new infections and deaths, potentially reversing decades of progress.  The statement reads:
<blockquote>
The World Health Organization (WHO) expresses deep concern about the implications of the immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries.
These programmes provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide. Globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023.
A funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries.
Such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America.
For the global community, this could result in significant setbacks to progress in partnerships and investments in scientific advances that have been the cornerstone of good public health programming, including innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines, and community delivery models of HIV care.
We call on the United States Government to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care.
<h2>PEPFAR’s legacy and current risks</h2>
The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been a flagship initiative of the global HIV response since its establishment over 20 years ago.
The current funding pause for PEPFAR will have a direct impact on millions of lives that depend on the predictable supply of safe and effective antiretroviral treatment.
PEPFAR works in over 50 countries around the world. Over the past two decades, PEPFAR funding has saved more than 26 million lives.
Currently, PEPFAR is providing HIV treatment for more than 20 million people living with HIV globally, including 566,000 children under 15 years of age.
Over the past year, PEPFAR and partners, including WHO, have been working on sustainability plans with countries for greater country ownership and reduced donor support up to and beyond 2030.
A sudden and prolonged stop to programmes does not allow for a managed transition and puts the lives of millions at risk.
WHO is committed to support PEPFAR and other partners, as well as national governments, in managing change processes effectively to minimize the impact on people living with HIV.
</blockquote>

Pindula News

The World Health Organization is worried because the U.S. government paused funding for HIV programs in other countries. These programs help 30 million people get life-saving HIV therapy. The pause could make more people sick or die and might lead to more new infections. Without funding, progress in fighting HIV could go back to the 1980s and 1990s when many people died from the virus. The WHO wants the U.S. to keep supporting HIV programs to save lives. The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is also affected by the funding pause, putting millions of lives at risk.

U.S. HIV Funding Pause Risks Reversing Decades Of Progress, WHO Warns

Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube expressed concern on Wednesday that a US withdrawal from the World Health Organisation could lead to aid cuts for countries like Zimbabwe, which are heavily affected by HIV/AIDS.
President Donald Trump signed an executive order for the US withdrawal after his second-term inauguration on Monday.
During an online briefing from Davos, where he was attending the World Economic Forum, Ncube said the withdrawal could signal cuts in health aid to countries like Zimbabwe. He said:
<blockquote>
Any country with an HIV/Aids challenge will be impacted. This is a concern, a fear we are expressing.
</blockquote>
According to <a href="https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/zimbabwe-fears-us-withdrawal-who-will-hit-hivaids-programmes-2025-01-22/">Reuters</a>, Zimbabwe receives over US$200 million annually from the US President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (PEPFAR).
Since 2006, the US government has given Zimbabwe over US$1.7 billion to strengthen health systems and support people living with HIV, according to the US embassy in Harare.
PEPFAR contributes nearly US$90 million annually to support salaries and incentives for healthcare workers, as well as funding HIV and viral load testing, prevention, cervical cancer screening, and tuberculosis treatment.
Zimbabwe is struggling to fund its public health system. The government introduced a sugar tax on beverages last year to raise funds for cancer treatment. This year, they introduced another tax on fast food. Said Ncube:
<blockquote>
We need to scale up our funding for health. The earmarked taxes should be directed towards health as we build our capacity to fill the gap should any funding recede.
</blockquote>

The Minister of Finance in Zimbabwe is worried that the US leaving the World Health Organization might stop funding for HIV/AIDS programs in Zimbabwe. President Trump signed an order to withdraw the US from the WHO. Zimbabwe gets a lot of money from the US to help with HIV/AIDS. Since 2006, they got over $1.7 billion. They use the money for healthcare workers and testing for diseases. Zimbabwe has some taxes to help with healthcare, but they might need more money if the US stops giving them help. They are trying to find ways to fill the gap in funding.

Mthuli Warns U.S. Withdrawal From WHO Could Hurt Zimbabwe's HIV/AIDS Programmes

President Donald Trump announced on Monday that the U.S. is withdrawing from the World Health Organization (WHO).
Trump has long criticized the United Nations health agency. During his first term, his administration began the withdrawal from the WHO in July 2020 as the COVID-19 pandemic spread.
However, four years ago, then-President Joe Biden halted the exit in one of his first actions after taking office.
Trump cited WHO’s alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic, its failure to adopt needed reforms, and its inability to demonstrate independence from political influence as reasons for the withdrawal.
He believes the U.S. was paying too much money to the organization compared to other countries.
In 2020, Trump accused the WHO of aiding China in allegedly covering up the origins of COVID-19 and allowing its spread.
In an interview with <a href="https://edition.cnn.com/2025/01/21/politics/trump-executive-action-world-health-organization-withdrawal/index.html">CNN</a> on Monday, Dr Ashish Jha, who served as White House COVID-19 response coordinator during the Biden administration, called Trump’s decision to withdraw from the WHO in his second term a “strategic error.” He said:
<blockquote>
WHO is a pretty essential organization — and with America’s withdrawal, it creates a political vacuum that only one country can fill — and that is China.
</blockquote>
Jha predicted that China will step up for the organization in the absence of U.S. funding and leadership, which could give China more political influence globally.
He warned that withdrawing from the WHO weakens the organization, as it relies heavily on U.S. staff and expertise, particularly in tracking global influenza.
Trump’s executive action calls on the secretary of state and the director of the Office of Management and Budget to “pause the future transfer of any United States Government funds, support, or resources” for the WHO.
However, it takes a year to fully withdraw from the body, and the U.S. should continue funding it for that period.

President Trump decided that the U.S. will stop being part of the World Health Organization. He was not happy with how the organization handled the COVID-19 pandemic. Trump thinks the U.S. was paying too much money to the WHO compared to other countries. Some people are worried that this decision will give China more power in the organization. It will take a year for the U.S. to completely leave the WHO, so they still need to give money for a while.

Trump Orders U.S. To Withdraw From The World Health Organisation

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus and other UN staff were at Sanaa’s airport in Yemen when Israeli air strikes began on Thursday, reported <a href="https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/clyj88rye1jo">BBC</a>.
At least six people were killed in the air strikes, with the Houthi-run Saba news agency reporting three deaths at the airport and 30 injuries, while another three were killed and 10 injured in Hodeidah province.
Israel’s military said it carried out “intelligence-based strikes on military targets” in Yemen, including the airport, power stations, and ports.
In comments shortly after the strikes, Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it would “continue to cut off the terror arm of the Iranian axis of evil until we complete the job”, adding “we are only just starting with [the Houthis]”.
The WHO’s Tedros said the airport’s air traffic control tower, departure lounge, and runway were damaged, delaying the departure of UN staff.
The Houthis condemned the strikes as “barbaric” and vowed continued confrontations with Israel and the U.S. until the Gaza conflict ends.
Iran condemned the strikes as a violation of international peace and security.
Houthi rebels have been attacking Israel since the first months of the Gaza war, which began in October 2023.
A Houthi missile strike injured more than a dozen people in Israel last week.
Israel has carried out intermittent strikes against Houthis in retaliation.
Early on Friday, the IDF reported that one missile fired from Yemen was intercepted before crossing into Israeli territory.
Local reports from the Sanaa airport suggested multiple casualties, with injuries ranging from critical to minor, particularly in a police hospital where victims were treated.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

The WHO Director-General was at an airport in Yemen with other UN staff when Israeli air strikes started. Six people were killed, and many were injured in the strikes. Israel said they targeted military areas in Yemen. The Houthis and Iran condemned the strikes. There have been ongoing attacks between the Houthis and Israel. Last week, a missile from the Houthis injured people in Israel. Israel has retaliated with strikes too. The IDF intercepted a missile from Yemen. Many people were injured at the Sanaa airport.

WHO Director-General Caught In Israeli Air Strikes In Yemen

More than 2.1 million Zimbaweans have been vaccinated against cholera in the single dose reactive campaign to curb the latest outbreak of the disease that has been reported in all of the country’s 10 provinces.
The month-long vaccination drive, which ended on 22 February 2024 in Harare, targeted people older than one year in 26 high-risk districts in seven provinces.
The 2 303 248 vaccine doses were received in Zimbabwe in three batches, with the final batch of 66 612 received on 17 February 2024.
The vaccination campaign was supported by the World Health Organization (WHO) in the African Region.
The first phase was completed in target districts in Harare province, as well as in Masvingo, Midlands and Mashonaland Central, achieving over 90% coverage.
Vaccination teams went from door to door, complementing fixed vaccination points in all health facilities in the affected areas.
Each vaccination team comprised three community health workers (comprised of a vaccinator, social mobilizer and recorder), and vaccinated an average of 150 people a day.
The Ministry of Health and Child Care, in collaboration with other ministries and supported by WHO, United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) and other partners, rolled out a multisectoral cholera response.
It focuses on streamlining the coordination of the outbreak response at all levels, treatment of cases and prevention, through improved access to safe water, sanitation, personal and food hygiene, and the dissemination of preventive messages to vulnerable and at-risk populations.
Jean-Marie Dangou, Acting WHO Representative in Zimbabwe said:
<blockquote>
While oral cholera vaccines are a critical component in the cholera response, it is important to highlight that cholera thrives where sanitation and clean water are scarce or inadequate.
Cholera is a disease of inequality. We must therefore acknowledge the critical work that remains.
</blockquote>
According to the Ministry of Health and Child Care, as of 4 March 2024, Zimbabwe had 27 182 suspected Cholera cases, 2 734 confirmed cases, 26 482 recoveries, 71 confirmed deaths and 502 suspected deaths.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

More Than 2.1 Million People Vaccinated Against Cholera In Zimbabwe

The World Health Organisation (WHO) on Friday, 05 May declared an end to the COronaVIrus Disease of 2019 (COVID-19) as a public health emergency more than three years after its original declaration.
WHO, however, stressed that it does not mean the disease is no longer a global threat.
The global health agency’s Emergency Committee met on Thursday and recommended WHO declare an end to the coronavirus crisis as a “public health emergency of international concern” which has been in place since 30 January 2020.
During a lengthy conference call to brief the press on the decision at the agency’s headquarters in Geneva, WHO Director-General, Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, said:
<blockquote>
It is therefore with great hope that I declare COVID-19 over as a global health emergency.
</blockquote>
According to WHO’s Coronavirus Dashboard which has collated key statistics since early in the pandemic, the cumulative cases worldwide now stand at 765 222 932, with deaths at 6 921 614.
As of 30 April, a total of more than 13.3 billion vaccine doses have been administered worldwide. Said Ghebreyesus:
<blockquote>
It is still killing and it is still changing. The risk remains of new variants emerging that cause new surges in cases and deaths.
</blockquote>
According to WHO data, the COVID death rate has slowed from a peak of more than 100 000 people per week in January 2021 to just over 3 500 in the week to 24 April 2023.
This has been attributed to widespread vaccination, the availability of better treatments and a level of population immunity from prior infections.
WHO does not declare the beginning or end of pandemics, although it did start using the term for COVID in March 2020. WHO’s emergencies director Michael Ryan said:
<blockquote>
In most cases, pandemics truly end when the next pandemic begins.
</blockquote>
COVID-19 was first identified in December 2019 in Wuhan, China and has since spread globally, leading to a worldwide pandemic.
More: <a href="https://www.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

WHO Declares End Of COVID-19 As Global Health Emergency

Zimbabwean nurses and doctors have expressed despair after the World Health Organisation (WHO) banned the recruitment of health professionals from Zimbabwe.
Speaking to <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/health/article/200009362/nurses-fret-over-global-recruitment-ban">NewsDay</a>, Zimbabwe Professional Nurses Union (ZPNU) secretary-general Douglas Chikobvu said the massive brain drain in the health sector is due to poor salaries. Said Chikobvu:
<blockquote>
As it stands, the future of Zimbabwean nurses set to leave for greener pastures has been dealt a big blow.
The government has been sort of abusive in how (it is) handling the plight of nurses.
Instead of addressing the root causes, (it is) coming up with a raft of measures to tie our already impoverished and starving nurses.
The reason for the massive brain drain is due to measly wages. What we all expected the government to do was to swiftly address bread and butter issues by awarding nurses a living wage in US dollars.
</blockquote>
Following the move by WHO, the United Kingdom placed Zimbabwe on the Red List which means that active recruitment is not permitted from the southern African country.
Active international recruitment in the code is defined as the process by which UK health and social care employers target individuals to market UK employment opportunities, with the intention of recruiting to a role in the UK health or social care sector.
It includes both physical or virtual targeting, and whether or not these actions lead to substantive employment.
According to the latest statistics by the UK’s Office of National Statistics, at least 3 000 Zimbabwean health professionals left the country for the UK in the past two years.
Zimbabwe was among the top five countries that registered the highest number of citizens granted work visas to Britain during the same period.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

Global Recruitment Ban A Huge Blow - Zimbabwean Nurses

President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said the World Health Organisation (WHO) has promised to avail funds to assist Zimbabwe to train more nurses and doctors to alleviate the brain drain in the medical sector.
Mnangagwa said this while addressing thousands of ZANU PF supporters, Johanne Marange apostolic sect members, and schoolchildren at the ground-breaking and fundraising ceremony of St Noah College in Marange on Wednesday. <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200008518/who-will-bail-us-out-ed">NewsDay</a> quoted Mnangagwa as saying:
<blockquote>
Our Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga was attending the ministers of health meeting in Switzerland and the WHO said they are aware that we are losing our doctors and nurses. The WHO said they will give us funds to recruit more nurses and doctors.
Our children, doctors, nurses and accountants and other professionals are being taken by other countries because they are educated. They are being taken by London, Australia, Canada and America.
</blockquote>
8 363 medical professionals were granted work visas by the United Kingdom between 2019 and September 2022.
Since last year, more than 2 200 nurses and doctors have left the country, according to the Health Services Board.
More: <a href="https://zero.pindula.co.zw/">Pindula News</a>

WHO Promised To Fund Training Of Doctors And Nurses In Zimbabwe - Mnangagwa

Zimbabwe has become the first African country to approve the use of long-acting injectable, Cabotegravir (CAB-LA), a pre-exposure prophylaxis (Prep) dose for HIV prevention.
The Medicines Control Authority of Zimbabwe (MCAZ) on Monday announced the approval of the use of the drug.
According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), “CAB-LA may be offered to people at substantial risk of HIV acquisition as part of comprehensive HIV prevention approaches”.
CAB-LA injections are to be taken every two months and studies have shown that they are highly effective in reducing the risk of HIV acquisition among homosexual men, transgender, and cisgender women.
Community Working Group on Health (CWGH) executive director Itai Rusike applauded the move to approve the use of the drug in Zimbabwe. He said:
<blockquote>
Prep dramatically reduces the risk of HIV acquisition for women as well as men.
We are aware that for more than a decade, WHO has recommended that pregnant and breastfeeding women at risk of HIV should be offered Prep.
The people of Zimbabwe should embrace this new development in order to reduce the risk of HIV infection.
</blockquote>
Development Agenda for Girls and Women in Africa Network representative Nyasha Sithole said “this will contribute to our basket of HIV prevention tools that work for us as girls and women in Zimbabwe”. | <a href="https://www.newsday.co.zw/local-news/article/200002248/zim-pilots-new-hiv-drug">NewsDay</a>

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