Confusion, uncertainty over HIV funds despite US waiver

Hours after the United States issued a stop-work order freezing all foreign assistance, including health programs supported through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), sparking concerns about setbacks in the fight against HIV and AIDS, the same government has offered reprieve to millions of people worldwide.

This came after U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio, in a statement on the department's website, approved an additional waiver of the pause for life-saving humanitarian assistance.

That waiver now means that organizations funded by the U.S. government will continue to receive funding for core life-saving medicines, medical services, food, shelter, subsistence assistance, supplies and reasonable administrative costs necessary to deliver such assistance.

However, funding remains suspended for abortion services, family planning, conferences, gender, diversity and inclusion initiatives, transgender surgeries and non-life-saving assistance.

Following Trump’s initial order, the Kenyan government pledged to ensure that those on ARV’s will continue to receive the life-saving treatment as it seeks to raise funds towards this through supplementary budgets

Speaking to the press in Naivasha on Wednesday after a meeting with the Kenya Bureau of Standards (KEBS), Medical Services Principal Secretary Harry Kimtai said that the Ministry of Health would reallocate some of its funds to critical health programmes as a sustainability measure.

He expressed confidence that there were enough ARV drugs to cater to over 1.4 million people living with HIV AIDS. 

"They need not worry because we will sit down with Treasury to make sure we continue funding to support those receiving ARVs, malaria treatment and TB. It's a question of adding additional sources through the Treasury," Kimtai said. 

At the same time, the PS noted that the government would introduce a Quality of Care Bill as part of the reforms to improve health care in the country. 

The bill, which is expected to target both public and private facilities, will target access to quality healthcare and improve standards within the sector.