US Aid Cuts Threaten South Africa's New HIV Prevention Breakthrough

JOHANNESBURG — South Africa last week launched a new six-monthly injection that experts call the most promising HIV prevention tool in years. But the country may struggle to deliver it. The problem? Much of the infrastructure that made HIV prevention services accessible to high-risk groups has been dismantled over the past year. The reason: cuts to aid from the United States. The new drug, lenacapavir, offers a breakthrough: a single injection every six months, instead of daily pills. For people at high risk of HIV, this could mean easier, more reliable protection. Yet the very pathways needed to reach these people—trusted clinics, community health workers, and outreach programs—have been decimated. These were built and funded largely by US aid programs. Without them, health officials ask: How can we deliver this new tool to those who need it most? The answer remains unclear.