USAID Funding Cuts: A Lifeline Lost for Tanzania’s HIV Patients
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) had been a cornerstone of Tanzania’s HIV response, providing $450 million annually for ARVs, testing, and community outreach since 2003. However, the abrupt halt in USAID funding in January 2025 has left clinics struggling to maintain supplies .
Clinics like Bagamoyo District Hospital are now rationing medications or turning patients away entirely. Helena Mkwasi, a street cook in Dar es Salaam, faces an impossible choice: “I have to decide between feeding my children and buying my medicine,” she said . Health experts warn that without immediate action, Tanzania could see 30,000 additional HIV-related deaths in the next two years .
Contradictions and Denials: Government vs. Ground Reality
Despite the clear evidence of shortages, Tanzania’s Health Ministry has denied the crisis, calling social media reports “misleading.” A February 8 statement insisted that ARV supplies remain stable and urged patients to avoid panic-buying .
However, frontline workers tell a different story. Abdallah Suleiman, a treatment trainer in Bagamoyo, recounted a mother pleading for ARVs for her son: “I had nothing to give her” . Similarly, pharmacies like Regan Okech’s in Nairobi report stockouts, leaving dozens of patients without access to critical medication .
The Domino Effect: Women, Children, and Public Health at Risk
The USAID funding cuts have disproportionately affected women and children. Gladys Kiio of Kenya’s African Gender and Media Initiative Trust warns that disrupted care exacerbates existing gender disparities: “Women are more vulnerable to HIV and its economic fallout” .
Children are also at significant risk. Mary Tarimo, a home-care supervisor, described a young boy born with HIV who now faces the threat of developing AIDS: “His mother walked miles to beg for pills” . Without consistent access to ARVs, experts warn of rising drug resistance and increased mother-to-child transmission rates .
Searching for Solutions: Can Tanzania Achieve Self-Reliance?
Opposition leaders and health experts are calling for immediate action to address the crisis. Chadema’s Ashura Masoud has demanded a national strategy to reallocate funds, noting that 94% of Tanzania’s HIV programs rely on foreign aid . ACT-Wazalendo’s Dr. Elizabeth Sanga has proposed increasing Tanzania’s health budget to 10% by 2026 and creating a National Health Service fund to ensure sustainable funding .
Global partners like the Global Fund and WHO offer a glimmer of hope. Dr. Elisha Osati emphasizes the need for diversified funding sources: “The US isn’t our only provider” . Meanwhile, UNAIDS has secured a temporary waiver to resume PEPFAR’s “life-saving” HIV treatments, providing some relief .
A Race Against Time: Voices From the Frontlines
Patients like Sibusiso in Eswatini epitomize the growing panic. After finding his clinic closed, he said, “I’m now thinking of dying” . Health workers like Catherine Joachim of TACAIDS are scrambling for alternatives: “We’re talking to every partner—time is running out” .
The USAID funding cuts in Tanzania have exposed the fragility of the country’s HIV response system. While the government denies shortages, patients and frontline workers paint a starkly different picture. Sustainable solutions—such as budget reforms and global partnerships—are urgently needed to prevent a slide back to the dark days of the HIV epidemic. As Mariam Msemwa’s plea echoes, “I just want my medicine,” the world must act before hope expires.
