Health Minister assures of measures to replenish ARV stock should US continue to withraw aid

JOHANNESBURG - Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says there are measures to replenish Antiretroviral (ARVs) should the United States of America (US) continue to withdraw aid.

This follows US President Donald Trump's announcement this week to freeze all foreign aid programmes.

The US government has since issued a waiver partially lifting the freeze on aid.

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This means the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) will continue temporarily.

Motsaoaledi says the main issue will be the salaries of workers who are paid with PEPFAR funds.

“We have just done a pledge in Brazil when we were there for G20, a pledge of R13 million. So, we do pledge. That money is pledged all over the world. The Global Fund keeps it, and then when they distribute it, they look at the country with the highest burden. But during the replenishment fund, countries donate according to their capacity.”