Freetown, Sierra Leone –
In a significant development, U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio has issued an “emergency humanitarian waiver” permitting the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) to maintain its life-saving HIV interventions across 55 countries, including Sierra Leone.
This decision comes in the wake of President Donald Trump’s recent executive order on foreign aid, which temporarily halted numerous overseas assistance programs, including PEPFAR, for a 90-day review period. The suspension had raised concerns about the continuity of HIV treatment services globally.
PEPFAR, with an annual budget of $6.5 billion, delivers HIV/AIDS treatment to more than 20.6 million people worldwide. In Sierra Leone, the program has been instrumental in providing antiretroviral therapy, supporting healthcare infrastructure, and implementing prevention initiatives.
The waiver directs implementing agencies, partners, and NGOs to resume providing treatment for vulnerable populations. However, it maintains restrictions on programs involving family planning conferences, gender or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) initiatives, and transgender surgeries.
Reacting to the development, the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS) welcomed the decision, emphasizing PEPFAR’s critical role in the global AIDS response and the renewed hope it brings to those affected by the disease.
In Sierra Leone, where HIV prevalence remains a public health concern, the continuation of PEPFAR-funded services is vital. The waiver ensures that individuals receiving treatment can continue without interruption, safeguarding the progress made in combating the epidemic.
Local health authorities and PEPFAR implementing partners in Sierra Leone are now coordinating efforts to resume full operations promptly, ensuring that the delivery of essential HIV services remains uninterrupted during this period of policy transition.