The program’s halt is particularly devastating for Western Equatoria, which has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the greater Equatoria region
By Emmanuel Mandella
Thousands of people living with HIV in Western Equatoria State are now living in uncertainty after the suspension of the HIV/AIDS program in Yambio, following a restriction on U.S. foreign aid.
The imminent threat, stemming from a recent Executive Order by U.S. President Donald Trump, has cut off crucial funding, leaving patients, healthcare workers, and government officials scrambling for solutions.
The program’s halt is particularly devastating for Western Equatoria, which has the highest HIV prevalence rate in the greater Equatoria region, at 6.8%, compared to 3.1% in Central Equatoria and 4.0% in Eastern Equatoria.
The suspension has disrupted essential services, including access to life-saving antiretroviral treatment (ART), HIV testing, and prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) initiatives.
Meanwhile, government and health officials have so far raised concern over the suspension, even as Western Equatoria State Health Minister, James Abdallah Arona, confirmed the suspension, attributing it to the U.S. government’s funding decisions.
“The program was halted following directives from the United States. I spoke with the program director of CMMB Yambio, and discussions are ongoing. We expect updates soon,” Arona said.
He expressed deep concern over the program’s reliance on international donors like USAID and Sweden, urging the national government and development partners to engage donors for continued support.
“If funding stops, people will suffer. We cannot afford to let this happen.”
Ms. Elizabeth Dominic Dabi, a member of the Western Equatoria State HIV & AIDS Commission, emphasized that the South Sudanese government had no role in the suspension.
“This is a directive from the United States. We don’t know if it was President Trump’s personal decision, but the freeze has affected all U.S.-funded programs, including legal aid and health initiatives,” Dabi explained.
She, however, reassured the public that efforts were underway to assess the number of affected individuals and ensure continued treatment.
“No single entity can permanently shut down such a critical program. We are working on alternatives.”
The abrupt suspension has left healthcare workers and patients in distress. Henry Biata Nzari, a PMTCT clinician at CMMB Yambio, confirmed that services had been paused.
“We were instructed to stop all ongoing services immediately. Before closing, we informed all county health departments about the development,” he said.
He also urged the government to intervene urgently and find possible solution to the vulnerable people who had been affected by the US directive.
“The community is highly vulnerable. If nothing is done, this suspension could have consequences.”
Among those directly affected is Lillian*, a woman living with HIV, who discovered the hospital had stopped providing services.
“I only have 11 pills left, enough for two weeks. The government and partners have to restore the program,” she warned.
Meanwhile, while commenting on the move by the US administration to halt the aid funding, former Kenyan President Uhuru Kenyatta urged African nations to take this as a lesson and be self-reliant. Kenyatta, while speaking at the East Africa Region Global Health Security Summit, cautioned African leaders against their overdependence on foreign aid.
“I saw some people crying, saying, ‘Trump has removed money.’ But why are you crying? It’s not your government. It’s not your country. He has no reason to give you anything.”
Kenyatta challenged African nations to rethink their reliance on Western funding and focus on using their resources effectively.
“Nobody will continue holding out a hand to give you. It’s time for us to use our own resources wisely.”
Debate on the January 24 directive has had resounding, mixed reactions, within and outside the US, with some deeply opposing the move and others, saying its time had come.
USAID acting Administrator Jason Gray put dozens of agency officials on administrative leave on Monday, saying they were suspected of seeking to circumvent Trump’s orders. One agency staffer told The Wall Street journal that 57 officials were put on leave.
Yesterday (on Sunday, January 2), the United States Agency for International Development’s (USAid) website went offline in what international media reported to be ‘the Trump administration continues to review its future and the path forward for US foreign aid in general.’