Humanitarian organizations have expressed grave concern over the impact of the United States’ aid freeze on Ivory Coast’s health sector, particularly the fight against HIV/AIDS.
A coalition of health associations in Abidjan warned that the suspension of US foreign aid poses a “grave threat to public health.”
The aid freeze, initiated by a presidential executive order for a 90-day review of overseas spending, has disrupted critical health programs, despite subsequent exemptions for initiatives like PEPFAR, the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief.
Gisele Takalea, a representative of the health associations, highlighted that PEPFAR funds over half of the financing for HIV-positive individuals in Ivory Coast.
The suspension led to shortages of antiretroviral drugs, placing thousands of patients’ lives at risk.
Takalea criticized Ivory Coast’s over-reliance on international aid and urged the government to increase national health budget allocations.
Ivory Coast, with over 400,000 people living with HIV, relies heavily on US support, which, prior to the freeze, was the largest source of international humanitarian aid.
Other African nations, including South Africa and Lesotho, have echoed concerns about the detrimental effects of the aid suspension.