ZIMBABWEAN organisations working on mitigating the effects of HIV and Aids have applauded a United States (US) government’s decision to issue an emergency waiver to the 90-day foreign assistance pause announced recently.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced an emergency humanitarian waiver to foreign assistance pause, where he approved an additional waiver of the pause under the Executive Order on Re-evaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid and his subsequent direction of January 24, 2025 for life-saving humanitarian assistance during the period of the review.
US President Donald Trump had issued an Executive Order suspending foreign aid while reviewing the benefits of aid pumped out to several organisations across the world.
In Zimbabwe, aid from the United States amounts to close to US$400 million covering various sectors, including HIV and Aids, food assistance and other health programmes.
Speaking to NewsDay yesterday, Family Aids Support Organisation director Casper Pound said though the ban was bound to affect people in their numbers, they had hopes for action from government.
“Now there is a lot of panic among people living with HIV. For now, the question remains: Will they be able to afford it if after the next three months support is withdrawn?” he asked rhetorically.
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“Considering the 2030 agenda, it means government is prepared or preparing to take over then. We have hopes that things will improve then.”
Pound, however, said America’s recent U-turn on the ban on life-saving medication was a relief in the meantime as they wait to hear of the fate thereafter.
In a statement on Tuesday, Rubio announced that implementers of existing life-saving humanitarian assistance programmes should “continue or resume work if they have stopped, subject to the following directions”.
He said: “This resumption is temporary in nature and except by separate waiver or as required to carry out this waiver, no new contracts shall be entered into.
“For purposes of this waiver, life-saving humanitarian assistance applies to core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs as necessary to deliver such assistance.”
He, however, said the waiver did not apply to activities that involved abortions, family planning conferences, administrative costs, gender or DEI [diversity, equity and inclusion] ideology programmes, transgender surgeries or other non-life saving assistance.”
“Migration and refugee assistance may only be used to support activities under section 1a) and for repatriation of third country nationals to their country of origin or safe-third-country,” he said.
Meanwhile, in a statement, the Zimbabwe National Network of People living with HIV (ZNNP+) applauded the assistance received from the United States.
“Through support we are receiving from our partners such as GNP+ [Global Network of People living with HIV], NATF [National Aids Trust Fund], among others, ZNNP+ wants to affirm that we remain open, actively representing the voices and needs of people living with HIV. Our commitment to advocacy remains unwavering,” ZNNP+ said.
“We will advocate to all levels of government to ensure that our communities receive the necessary support and that the rights of people living with HIV are protected during this time
“We will keep our communities informed about any developments through our platforms. The Kutabila Platform will continue to be operational.
“PLHIV [people living with HIV] are urged to call at no cost, our tollfree number, 08080441 to report any disruptions in services or share any challenges they are experiencing.”