Zimbabwe fears US withdrawal from WHO will hit HIV/AIDS programmes

Zimbabwe’s finance minister, Mthuli Ncube, raised concerns on Wednesday that the U.S. withdrawal from the World Health Organization could lead to significant cuts in health aid, especially for countries like Zimbabwe struggling with HIV/AIDS.

Ncube emphasized that nations with severe health challenges, including Zimbabwe, will be directly impacted.

The U.S. government has provided over $1.7 billion to Zimbabwe since 2006, including $200 million annually through PEPFAR to support healthcare workers and vital health services.

Zimbabwe’s fragile health system is already burdened, prompting the government to introduce new taxes to bolster cancer treatment and healthcare funding.

Ncube stressed the urgent need to strengthen health financing and ensure stability in the face of potential aid reductions.