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CAPE TOWN – Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi says the United States does not owe South Africa a cent.
He said the country should seize the crisis following the US’ withdrawal of aid to HIV/AIDS programmes to stand on its own feet.
Debating the impact of the cancellation of aid in the National Assembly on Thursday, Motsoaledi gave the assurance that it won’t impact the purchase of antiretroviral drugs.
Health programmes, particularly those geared towards the fight against HIV/AIDS are the hardest hit by US President Donald Trump’s executive order to withdraw funding to South Africa.
Motsoaledi said government buys 90 percent of antiretroviral drugs, with the rest supported by the global fund.
However, around 15,000 NGO workers are directly impacted by the cancellation of PEPFAR funding introduced by former US President George W. Bush.
“Trump doesn’t owe South Africa a single cent whatsover, and for that reason, we need to stand on our own, we must not waste this crisis.”
Motsoaledi said rather than debate the end of US funding, parliament should discuss why Members of Parliament and state employees receive R70 billion in subsidies to belong to private medical aid.
“Why are we still getting heavy subsidies to stay on private medical aids? Is it fair? Should we be doing that during this difficult moment?”
Motsoaledi said the department has already met with several other international donors to plug the gap left by the PEPFAR funding crunch.
source:EWN: Eyewitness News
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