Health officials in Botswana have reacted with frown to US President Donald Trump-led government’s decision to freeze aid to poor countries to 'root out waste'.
In their reaction, the Botswana Nurses Union (BONU expressed shock and disbelief over the move, saying it will affect those on already on HIV treatment. BONU president, Peter Baleseng, emphasised that it is incomprehensible for patients undergoing Highly Active Anti-Retroviral Therapy (HAART) to miss their treatments, while holding out hope that the Americans can successfully block Trump’s harmful agenda. "This is not only a dangerous motive but an unethical one," Baleseng stated. "To subject human lives to such uncertainty is simply unacceptable," he added. Following his inauguration, President Trump signed an executive order for a 90-day pause in United States foreign development assistance for assessment of programmatic efficiencies and consistency with United States foreign policy. The development had a ripple effects as it led to the closure of several offices and thousands of jobs made redundant at various Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) across the world.
The news has also left many people in shock, as they grapple with the unexpected impact. For their part, the Ministry of Health stated that the move will have an impact on the delivery of health in the country. Ministry of Health spokesperson, Dr Christopher Nyanga, explained that just like other countries, Botswana has been fortunate to receive generous aid from the government of the United States of America for many decades. "In the health sector, this aid comprised funding for direct service delivery and technical support, which has over the years been instrumental to the growth of the health sector of this country," stated Nyanga.
He, however, said through the support from the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) and Centres of Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the US has been part and parcel of the Botswana health story. Furthermore, he said since the introduction of PEPFAR in 2003, the health sector has cumulatively benefited support amounting to over P1 billion. Nyanga also indicated that the US support has been instrumental in helping Botswana to be one of the first countries in the world to reach and exceed the UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets well ahead of time. As a result, many people living with HIV/AIDS in Botswana are able to live long. “With new information indicating that the US government has suspended foreign aid, with immediate effect, the impact on the health sector of this country will definitely be felt,” he said. “Many local US funded Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) implementing various health programmes, have already indicated that they have been asked to suspend their operations with immediate effect.” Nyanga said the suspension of the aid if made permanent, will indeed affect progress in the health sector, especially in the area of HIV/AIDS. However, the Ministry has assured Batswana that this development does not affect the availability of Antiretroviral (ARV) medication, which is directly procured by the Botswana government. As a way forward, he said the Ministry will engage all stakeholders including the US Embassy in Botswana, to dialogue on how the affected services can be continued.
Already, Lesbians, Gays and Bisexuals of Botswana (LEGABIBO) has temporarily closed FHI 360 drop in centres, after Trump froze funding for certain global programmes, including those under FHI 360. They also assured their clients of alternative support options and emergence contact information. “Please note that we are working with local and regional organisations to mitigate the impact of this disruption,” the organisation stated in a press release. On the other hand, the Botswana Council of Non-Governmental Organisations (BOCONGO) has also issued a press release informing the public of immediate suspension of all projects and activities that were supported by the US government.
However, BOCONGO called on the government to seriously consider the implications of the latest development on the broader national development landscape, given the important role that NGOs have been playing in that regard. In their press release dated January 29, 2025, NGO umbrella body noted that while this situation may cause panic and distress, they appeal and request stakeholders to remain patient as they continue to engage with all concerned for amicable, progressive resolution and way forward.