US Evangelical Leaders Urge Trump to Spare HIV/AIDS Program Amid Crushing Cuts to Foreign Assistance
The President’s Emergency Plan for Aids Relief (Pepfar), a two-decade-old program credited with preventing 25 million early deaths, particularly in Africa, is facing crushing cuts to foreign assistance. Christian evangelical organizations instrumental in creating the program are pressing the Trump administration to rescue it from cancellation.
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria receives approximately $4 billion in funding annually.
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) allocates around $6 billion each year.
In 2020, the US government pledged an additional $1.5 billion over three years.
Funding from governments, NGOs, and private organizations has led to significant increases in antiretroviral treatment access worldwide.
According to UNAIDS, there were 25 million people on treatment by 2020, up from 7 million in 2003.
A Pro-Life Program
Evangelical groups, many of which backed Trump’s election because of abortion policy, argue that delivery of anti-retroviral medicines (ARVs) funded by the US has all but ground to a halt in some countries, particularly in Africa. They warn that this could lead to a resurgence of AIDS in parts of the world where it has been brought under control, costing millions of lives.
The resurgence of AIDS is a global health concern, with new infections reaching alarming rates.
According to UNAIDS, in 2020, there were 1.5 million new HIV infections worldwide.
The primary cause of this increase is inadequate access to healthcare services, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.
Other contributing factors include stigma, lack of education, and insufficient funding for prevention programs.
To combat the resurgence, efforts are being made to expand access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and improve HIV testing and treatment services.
‘When Pepfar was up for reauthorization we, as World Relief, have supported it every time,’ said ‘When Pepfar was up for reauthorization we, as World Relief, have supported it every time’ Emily Chambers Sharpe, health director at World Relief. ‘We see it as really overarchingly a pro-life program in that it promotes the life-saving need for HIV treatment, which many of us in the field have called The Lazarus Effect.’
A Lack of Transparency
Chambers Sharpe criticized what she called a ‘lack of transparency’ within the state department about cuts to USAid and its impact on Pepfar. She emphasized the importance of preserving the program, citing its success in preventing early deaths and promoting life-saving treatment.
The President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is a US government program that provides funding to combat HIV/AIDS globally.
PEPFAR transparency refers to the program's commitment to openness and accountability in its operations, including financial management, grant awards, and implementation progress.
According to the 2020 'PEPFAR report', the program allocated $6.7 billion for global AIDS relief efforts.
Transparency is ensured through regular reporting, audits, and evaluations, which are publicly available on the PEPFAR website.
‘We’re encouraging the administration to get the program back up to full speed as soon as possible,’ said Galen Carey, vice-president of government relations at the National Association of Evangelicals (NAE). ‘There’s quite a bit of concern in Congress because Pepfar has been a very popular bipartisan program.’
The Human Cost
Doctors and healthcare workers on the ground are sounding the alarm about the devastating impact of aid cuts. Matthew Loftus, a doctor and evangelical Christian working at a mission hospital in Kenya, described the damage being done: ‘Pepfar is being dismantled… Many people will die as a result.’
Loftus warned that stopping ARV treatment could lead to a resurgence of AIDS, with severe consequences for public health. ‘Once you stop taking ARVs, within days the virus can come back online and then start developing resistance,’ he said.
A Pro-Life Position
Evangelical Christian groups were instrumental in persuading President George W Bush to launch Pepfar in 2004. They saw it not only as a pro-life position but also an opportunity to promote their values. When HIV-positive diagnoses were seen as a death sentence, the program provided hope and treatment.
“Over time, it really turned around in a dramatic way,” said Galen Carey. ‘The stories that came out of caring for orphans and helping local churches and promoting Christian understanding of sexual morality and faithfulness in marriage was an important piece of the puzzle since a lot of the transmission was through sexual contact.’
A Call to Action
As the Trump administration considers cutting funding for Pepfar, evangelical groups are urging action. They argue that preserving the program is not only a matter of public health but also a moral imperative.
‘Some churches are not as eager to put their necks out and advocate for something that seems to be opposed by some of the people in power,’ said Matthew Loftus. ‘I think churches and Christians who are politically active are not aware of what’s at stake, and many of them are probably consuming news in an environment that isn’t even bringing it up as an issue.’
- theguardian.com | US evangelical groups urge Trump to spare HIV/Aids program from aid cuts
