February 7, 2025
On Friday, January 24, 2025, the U.S. President Donald Trump announced a 90-day freeze on funding for foreign aid programs, including the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). During this period, no new funding will be provided, and ongoing programs have been halted.
The International Community of Women Living with HIV in Eastern Africa (ICWEA) is deeply alarmed by this decision by the U.S. administration to freeze PEPFAR funding for 90 days. This abrupt halt threatens to dismantle life-saving HIV programs, putting millions—especially women and girls—at risk of treatment interruptions, new infections, and preventable deaths. At a time when global efforts have made significant strides in the fight against HIV & AIDS, this funding freeze endangers the hard-won progress and pushes the most vulnerable communities further into crisis. We call for urgent action to lift the freeze and ensure continued support for those who need it most.
PEPFAR has been a cornerstone in the fight against HIV & AIDS, providing testing, prevention services, life-saving antiretroviral treatment, Maternal and New born Child health care services, cervical cancer screening and treatment, supporting programmes for young women and girls under the DREAMS programme, supporting human rights programmes as well as supporting communities to monitor service delivery, ensuring quality services and value for money. All these programmes have been halted and without these programmes:
- Treatment interruptions will occur, leading to non-viral suppression, increased illness, and preventable deaths.
- Efforts to prevent vertical transmission of HIV will be compromised, putting newborns at risk of acquiring HIV.
- Test-and-treat programs will be halted, making it harder to diagnose and treat new HIV cases.
- Vulnerable populations, including women, adolescent girls, and child-headed households, may be lost to follow-up as implementing partners struggle to provide services.
- Mental health challenges will rise, with fear and uncertainty over treatment interruptions leading to increased distress and even preventable deaths, including suicide.
- The Quality of services will be compromised and service delivered may not m.eet the needs and priorities of end users hence less value for money.
The Impact on Women and Girls
The PEPFAR funding freeze will disproportionately affect women and girls, who are already among the most vulnerable in the HIV response. The consequences will be devastating:
- Loss of access to essential HIV prevention tools such as PrEP and condoms, increasing their risk of infection.
- Disruptions in vertical transmission programs, reversing hard-earned progress toward an HIV-free generation.
- Heightened anxiety and stress due to uncertainty over treatment, particularly for young women and adolescent girls living with HIV.
- Increased vulnerability to gender-based violence and social isolation, as weakened healthcare systems reduce access to essential services and support networks.
- Loss of livelihood and economic security as women and girls who rely on PEPFAR-supported programs—such as peer educators, healthcare workers, and small-business beneficiaries—face job losses and income instability.
Jeopardizing Global Progress Toward 95-95-95 Targets
The funding freeze endangers global efforts to reach the 95-95-95 targets—95% of people living with HIV diagnosed, 95% on treatment, and 95% virally suppressed. Years of investment and progress in Eastern Africa and beyond are now at risk.
A Call to Action
We call on African governments to step up and prioritize the health of their citizens by increasing domestic financing through existing budgets. No one should be left behind during this critical period. Every effort must be made to protect the progress achieved in the fight against HIV & AIDS and to advocate for the full restoration of PEPFAR funding.
The PEPFAR funding freeze threatens millions across East Africa. We urge EAC leaders to demand its immediate restoration, mobilize emergency resources, and strengthen regional health policies to protect women, girls, and key populations. Fast-tracking the EAC Health Sector Strategic Plan is crucial to reducing donor dependence and ensuring sustained HIV prevention and treatment. Now is the time for bold leadership to safeguard hard-won progress against HIV & AIDS.
In response to the PEPFAR funding freeze, governments must take urgent and decisive action:
- Mobilize domestic resources to fill the funding gap and sustain essential HIV prevention, treatment, and care and support services.
- Invest in sustainable, locally driven healthcare solutions to reduce dependency on external donors.
- Engage with the U.S. government and international partners to emphasize the urgent need to restore PEPFAR funding.
- Strengthen social safety nets for women, children, and families at risk of being lost to follow-up due to service disruptions.
The next 90 days are critical. We urge the U.S. government to lift the funding freeze and allow these life-saving programs to continue. The health and lives of millions—especially women and girls—depend on it.
About ICWEA
The International Community of Women Living with HIV Eastern African (ICWEA) is a regional network run for and by Women living with HIV. It was founded in response to the desperate lack of support, information and services available to women living with HIV worldwide and their need for influence and input into policy development.
For more information, please contact:
Lillian Mworeko
Executive Director, ICWEA
