- Nearly one million people undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment depend on US aid
By Ricardo Dias
Maputo (MOZTIMES)—The US government invests at least one billion dollars annually in Mozambique, primarily in social sectors such as health, education, sanitation, agriculture, and disaster response. With President Donald Trump's foreign aid freeze, the health sector is set to be the hardest hit.
The HIV/AIDS programme, for example, receives around 400 million dollars per year from the US. Over the past 20 years, the United States has invested 5.2 billion dollars in combating HIV, according to Mozambican government data.
According to Prime Minister Benvinda Levi, other sectors that also receive significant support will also feel the impact of the aid suspension.
Levi stated that the Mozambican government will need to reposition its financial resources to offset the suspension of US funds, which are especially targeted at social sectors. “It is a great challenge because US support is crucial, particularly for social sectors,” the Prime Minister said on Monday. “We will need to reassess our resources and find ways to redirect them to these areas to ensure they can continue operating at a minimal level,” she explained.
Benvinda Levy made these remarks in Maputo on the sidelines of the swearing-in ceremony of the new General Commander of the Police, Joaquim Sive, held at the President’s office.
The US government has implemented a global aid freeze for 90 days with immediate effect. Only two favoured allies, Israel and Egypt, are exempted. The decision has had a devastating impact on many nations, as the US consistently ranks as the world’s largest humanitarian donor. In Mozambique, nearly one million people undergoing HIV/AIDS treatment rely directly on US aid.
The measure also affects the 500 million dollars allocated to the “Compact II” programme of the Millennium Challenge Corporation, which aims to finance infrastructure development in Zambézia Province, one of Mozambique’s most populous and least developed regions. (RD)
