Skip to content
mental-health — Agreed — Science — health-and-wellness — Transmit — Advocacy — Cookies — Msimang

Struggling for Finances: HIV Advocacy Takes a Modern Stand

A decrease in US funding could cause approximately 300,000 additional HIV infections in the next four years, according to activists like Sisonke Msimang. This echoes some of the errors in HIV/AIDS denialism from past decades.

,   and  Administrator
2 min read

Struggling for Finances: HIV Advocacy Takes a Modern Stand

Hey there! Let's dive into the world of health advocacy and politics, shall we?

Sisonke Msimang, a South African writer and political scientist, is known for her outspokenness. Recently, she expressed concern over the silence surrounding the US funding cuts. She says, "So, the US funding cuts happened, and I was looking for the noise! I was asking the other day, where are my people, why aren't they shouting?"

Sisonke's voice was loud during the Mbeki era when she fought against AIDS denialism. She supported the Treatment Action Campaign (TAC), playing a crucial role in a historical legal triumph in 2002. This victory ensured that HIV-positive pregnant women received lifesaving treatment, preventing them from passing the virus to their babies.

Today, Sisonke belongs to the group of 29 health rights activists featured in the Health and Human Rights Oral History Project. This project, which launched in March, comes at a time when the world is grappling with the consequences of the Trump administration's funding cuts to HIV programs and research studies.

These cuts have led to the closure or impending closure of over half of HIV and TB projects in South Africa, with remaining projects having budgets secured only until September. A modeling study by Wits University’s HE²RO project suggests that these funding cuts could result in 150,000 to 295,000 new HIV infections and up to a 38% increase in AIDS-related deaths over the next four years.

Sisonke's fight against AIDS denialism during the Mbeki era demonstrates her commitment to health advocacy. Today, her voice continues to echo loudly, urging the world to stand up and speak out against the consequences of funding cuts.

  1. Sisonke Msimang, known for her advocacy, recently lamented the silence surrounding the US funding cuts, saying, "I was asking, where are my people, why aren't they shouting?"
  2. In a historic legal triumph in 2002, Sisonke played a crucial role in ensuring that HIV-positive pregnant women received lifesaving treatment, a victory that highlighted her commitment to health-and-wellness.
  3. Sisonke is now part of the Health and Human Rights Oral History Project, a timely initiative launched during the consequences of the Trump administration's funding cuts to HIV programs and research studies.
  4. Sisonke's call to action against the consequences of funding cuts resonates today, as modeling studies suggest that these cuts could lead to up to 295,000 new HIV infections and a 38% increase in AIDS-related deaths over the next four years.
Future US funding decreases may result in an additional 300,000 HIV infections over the next four years, according to activists like Sisonke Msimang. This resembles the AIDS denialism of past decades, pointing towards funding as a critical factor in the ongoing battle against HIV.
US financing reductions could result in an additional 300,000 HIV infections over the next four years, replacing the old AIDS denialism as a threat. Activists like Sisonke Msimang argue that lessons from the past can guide the current battle against the disease.

Read also:

    Related

    Latest