Vulnerable South Africans struggle to find HIV medication after U.S. foreign aid cuts

Vulnerable South Africans struggle to find HIV medication after U.S. foreign aid cuts World Aug 24, 2025 4:17 PM EDT

JOHANNESBURG (AP) — On a warm evening in Johannesburg, the news spread like wildfire among sex workers: Within 24 hours, several nonprofit clinics providing free HIV services would be closing as President Donald Trump announced the United States was slashing foreign aid.

Some South Africans living with, or at risk of, HIV secured supplies of life-saving drugs just in time. Others did not.

Half a year later, the country with more people living with HIV than any other is struggling to treat its most vulnerable. Over 63,000 people were being treated in the 12 clinics across the nation that shut down. Up to 220,000 people have faced disruption to their daily HIV medication.