Top 10 African countries with the highest HIV-AIDS assistance from the US in 2024

The United States has pledged to maintain funding for life-saving humanitarian assistance during a 90-day pause in foreign aid.

U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced the approval of an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver,” ensuring uninterrupted access to HIV treatment supported by the U.S.

According to the waiver approved by Rubio, life-saving humanitarian assistance includes core life-saving medicine, medical services, food, shelter, and subsistence assistance, as well as supplies and reasonable administrative costs necessary to deliver such assistance.

Earlier this week, the U.S. State Department announced a temporary halt in disbursing funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a vital program providing HIV treatment in Africa and other developing regions, for at least 90 days.

PEPFAR has been one of the most significant global initiatives in combating HIV, helping provide treatment to more than 20 million people worldwide, including over 550,000 children. This abrupt disruption could have devastating consequences, especially for African nations where the HIV epidemic remains a major health crisis.

According to Statista, Sub-Saharan Africa remains the epicentre of the global HIV epidemic, with millions of people living with HIV and thousands more being newly infected each year.

South Africa, in particular, stands out as the country with the highest number of people living with HIV in Africa. In 2023, 7.7 million South Africans were living with the virus.

Thanks to advancements in treatment and awareness, HIV/AIDS no longer causes a significant number of deaths in many countries. However, it remains the fourth leading cause of death in Africa, responsible for approximately 5.6% of all fatalities.