{ "title": "Flash quote: MSF warns abrupt PEPFAR withdrawal puts key populations at greater risk", "modified_at": "2026-07-01 10:48:46", "published_at": "2026-07-01 10:48:00", "url": "https://msf-sa-press.prezly.com/flash-quote-msf-warns-abrupt-pepfar-withdrawal-puts-key-populations-at-greater-risk", "short_url": "http://prez.ly/YbKd", "culture": "en", "language": "EN", "subtitle": "Antonio Flores, Senior HIV, TB Advisor, Southern Africa Medical Unit (SAMU)", "slug": "flash-quote-msf-warns-abrupt-pepfar-withdrawal-puts-key-populations-at-greater-risk", "body": "

“Doctors Without Borders (MSF) has been working in HIV care in South Africa since 2001, when we fought for lifesaving treatments to reach people who needed them, especially in communities like Khayelitsha. Today, despite huge progress, South Africa still has the largest HIV epidemic in the world. Withdrawing PEPFAR funding that supports prevention and treatment efforts suddenly is a decision clearly not based on science or public health needs. Instead of a responsible, planned and phased transition, this abrupt withdrawal risks undermining the support systems that decades of investment helped build. People who find it difficult to access the formal health system because of stigma or discrimination are likely to be most severely affected by this sudden termination. Ultimately, this will endanger lives.”

\n \n
\n \n
\n \n \n
\n
\n\n
MSF USA took part in the New York City Pride on June 28, 2026. Staff and Association members participated in the NYC Pride March as well as PrideFest and used it as an opportunity to promote MSF’s call for pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to increase access to the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir by making it available everywhere around the world for $40 for a twice-yearly injection. Photographer: Melissa Pracht| Date: 28/06/2026 | Location: USA
\n \n

Background:

1 Meyer-Rath G, Jamieson L, Mudimu E, Imai-Eaton JW, Johnson LF. The cost of the plunge: the impact and cost of a cessation of PEPFAR-supported services in South Africa. AIDS. 2025 Aug 1;39(10):1476-1480. doi: 10.1097/QAD.0000000000004272. Epub 2025 Jun 20. PMID: 40549501; PMCID: PMC12262123. https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12262123/

\n Read more about our activities in South Africa\n
\n
\"Jane
\n
\n Jane Rabothata\n Communications Specialist, Doctors Without Borders\n \n
\n

 

", "images": [ { "caption": "MSF USA took part in the New York City Pride on June 28, 2026. Staff and Association members participated in the NYC Pride March as well as PrideFest and used it as an opportunity to promote MSF\u2019s call for pharmaceutical company Gilead Sciences to increase access to the HIV prevention drug lenacapavir by making it available everywhere around the world for $40 for a twice-yearly injection. Photographer: Melissa Pracht| Date: 28/06/2026 | Location: USA", "original": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0dce2aa8-6cdf-4c74-91f4-04f5477179c7/", "medium": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0dce2aa8-6cdf-4c74-91f4-04f5477179c7/-/preview/500x500/-/format/auto/", "small": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0dce2aa8-6cdf-4c74-91f4-04f5477179c7/-/preview/200x200/-/format/auto/", "thumbnail": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0dce2aa8-6cdf-4c74-91f4-04f5477179c7/-/preview/100x100/-/format/auto/", "square": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0dce2aa8-6cdf-4c74-91f4-04f5477179c7/-/scale_crop/200x200/center/-/format/auto/", "squaresmall": "https://cdn.uc.assets.prezly.com/0dce2aa8-6cdf-4c74-91f4-04f5477179c7/-/scale_crop/58x58/center/-/format/auto/" } ], "contacts": [ { "name": "Jane Rabothata", "company": "Doctors Without Borders", "description": "Communications Specialist", "email": "jane.rabothata@joburg.msf.org", "website": null, "address": null, "telephone": "0712873613", "mobile": null, "twitter": null, "facebook": null } ], "author": { "first_name": "Jane", "last_name": "Rabothata" }, "format_version": 5 }