In January, President Donald Trump suspended foreign aid for 90 days, cutting off money from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID). This decision shocked many countries around the world, especially those in Africa. Last year, USAID gave $12.1 billion to countries below the Sahara desert. The money helped with healthcare, food, and security.
USAID pays for the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which fights AIDS globally. Because of this funding freeze, millions of Africans who need these services face uncertain futures. South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament on February 6 how PEPFAR affects their HIV response. PEPFAR provides 17 percent of total funding—over 7.5 billion rand ($407 million).
This money supports programs for 7.8 million South Africans with HIV/AIDS - the highest number anywhere. PEPFAR also pays more than 15,000 healthcare workers, including nurses and pharmacists. South Africa's HIV/AIDS response hangs by a thread because of Trump's aggressive political agenda. Yet this crisis might never have happened if South Africa had taken care of its problems instead of depending on a foreign country.
As Africa's most advanced economy, South Africa should not rely heavily on PEPFAR. Its dependence points to deeper issues in the healthcare system and government—mainly mismanagement and corruption. South Africa loses billions of rand every year through bad administration and unchecked corruption. That money could address essential services, including HIV/AIDS healthcare.
Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital shows how corruption hurts people. In August 2024, the Special Investigating Unit reported corruption networks caused losses of over 3 billion rand at this hospital. Senior staff members participated in these illegal activities. The hospital has struggled for years to deliver services. It lacks specialized staff and equipment, which has led to deaths that could have been prevented.
The Auditor General found the Gauteng provincial government wasted 9.879 billion rand through irregular spending in 2023-24. Across 38 government departments, irregular expenses reached 50.65 billion rand in 2024. State-owned enterprises recorded 69.35 billion rand in improper spending. These numbers show that yearly US assistance of $7.5 billion seems small compared to money lost through fraud and corruption.
South Africa can reduce or eliminate its need for US healthcare assistance by creating clean, accountable governance. Kenya faces similar issues, with the US promising $207 million in aid for 2024. The halt in Washington's aid threatens HIV-positive orphans at Nyumbani Children's Home in Nairobi. Between 1999 and 2023, USAID and PEPFAR gave more than $16 million to this orphanage, helping about 50,000 children.
Without funding, thousands of vulnerable children may become seriously ill or die. Many youth might miss vital HIV/AIDS counseling services. Kenya can free itself from US aid dependency and support places like Nyumbani Children's Home with its money. This can happen only if Kenya fights corruption, reviews government spending, and improves governance. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission reports Kenya loses about 608 billion shillings ($4.7 billion) yearly to corruption - 7.8 percent of its GDP.
Nairobi must care for its disadvantaged citizens. Nyumbani Children's Home orphans should not depend on Washington for HIV/AIDS services. These children struggle mainly because self-serving politicians ignore their needs and national welfare. About 37.5 percent of Kenyans experience multiple deprivations in health, education, and living standards. Yet President William Ruto appointed the largest administration in recent history on March 16, 2023.
Ruto ranked second in the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project's 2024 Corrupt Person of the Year award, behind Syria's Bashar al-Assad. This embarrassing award recognizes leaders who promote global crime and corruption. In West Africa, Nigeria presents an even stronger case than Kenya. Nigeria approved $200 million on February 14 to cover an expected 2025 deficit from US health aid cuts. The US provided over $600 million in health support to Nigeria in 2023.
This amount made up more than 21 percent of Nigeria's yearly health budget, mainly for malaria prevention, HIV elimination, and vaccine distribution. Many of Nigeria's problems come from within. The country needs self-sufficiency rather than US assistance. Nigeria has enormous economic potential that remains unfulfilled because of corruption and waste. The country loses approximately $18 billion each year to financial misconduct and corrupt purchasing processes.
A 2016 PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria study warned that corruption could reach 37 percent of the country's GDP by 2030. The report identified three main effects of corruption, especially decreased government effectiveness from a smaller tax base and poor resource distribution. Nigeria experienced #EndBadGovernance protests in 2024. The country has the resources to free itself permanently from US aid. Achieving this requires strong, progressive, principled governance.
From Zimbabwe to Uganda and Tanzania, breaking free from Western "kindness" represents a crucial part of Africa's post-colonial success. The painful contradiction of Western nations giving billions to inefficient African governments that control resource-rich countries must change. African nations must take responsibility for the challenges faced by their underprivileged communities. The lives of everyday Africans should not depend on US aid or Western politicians' decisions. Africa can and must care for its people.
USAID pays for the US President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which fights AIDS globally. Because of this funding freeze, millions of Africans who need these services face uncertain futures. South Africa's Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi told Parliament on February 6 how PEPFAR affects their HIV response. PEPFAR provides 17 percent of total funding—over 7.5 billion rand ($407 million).
This money supports programs for 7.8 million South Africans with HIV/AIDS - the highest number anywhere. PEPFAR also pays more than 15,000 healthcare workers, including nurses and pharmacists. South Africa's HIV/AIDS response hangs by a thread because of Trump's aggressive political agenda. Yet this crisis might never have happened if South Africa had taken care of its problems instead of depending on a foreign country.
As Africa's most advanced economy, South Africa should not rely heavily on PEPFAR. Its dependence points to deeper issues in the healthcare system and government—mainly mismanagement and corruption. South Africa loses billions of rand every year through bad administration and unchecked corruption. That money could address essential services, including HIV/AIDS healthcare.
Tembisa Provincial Tertiary Hospital shows how corruption hurts people. In August 2024, the Special Investigating Unit reported corruption networks caused losses of over 3 billion rand at this hospital. Senior staff members participated in these illegal activities. The hospital has struggled for years to deliver services. It lacks specialized staff and equipment, which has led to deaths that could have been prevented.
The Auditor General found the Gauteng provincial government wasted 9.879 billion rand through irregular spending in 2023-24. Across 38 government departments, irregular expenses reached 50.65 billion rand in 2024. State-owned enterprises recorded 69.35 billion rand in improper spending. These numbers show that yearly US assistance of $7.5 billion seems small compared to money lost through fraud and corruption.
South Africa can reduce or eliminate its need for US healthcare assistance by creating clean, accountable governance. Kenya faces similar issues, with the US promising $207 million in aid for 2024. The halt in Washington's aid threatens HIV-positive orphans at Nyumbani Children's Home in Nairobi. Between 1999 and 2023, USAID and PEPFAR gave more than $16 million to this orphanage, helping about 50,000 children.
Without funding, thousands of vulnerable children may become seriously ill or die. Many youth might miss vital HIV/AIDS counseling services. Kenya can free itself from US aid dependency and support places like Nyumbani Children's Home with its money. This can happen only if Kenya fights corruption, reviews government spending, and improves governance. The Ethics and Anti-Corruption Commission reports Kenya loses about 608 billion shillings ($4.7 billion) yearly to corruption - 7.8 percent of its GDP.
Nairobi must care for its disadvantaged citizens. Nyumbani Children's Home orphans should not depend on Washington for HIV/AIDS services. These children struggle mainly because self-serving politicians ignore their needs and national welfare. About 37.5 percent of Kenyans experience multiple deprivations in health, education, and living standards. Yet President William Ruto appointed the largest administration in recent history on March 16, 2023.
Ruto ranked second in the Organised Crime and Corruption Reporting Project's 2024 Corrupt Person of the Year award, behind Syria's Bashar al-Assad. This embarrassing award recognizes leaders who promote global crime and corruption. In West Africa, Nigeria presents an even stronger case than Kenya. Nigeria approved $200 million on February 14 to cover an expected 2025 deficit from US health aid cuts. The US provided over $600 million in health support to Nigeria in 2023.
This amount made up more than 21 percent of Nigeria's yearly health budget, mainly for malaria prevention, HIV elimination, and vaccine distribution. Many of Nigeria's problems come from within. The country needs self-sufficiency rather than US assistance. Nigeria has enormous economic potential that remains unfulfilled because of corruption and waste. The country loses approximately $18 billion each year to financial misconduct and corrupt purchasing processes.
A 2016 PricewaterhouseCoopers Nigeria study warned that corruption could reach 37 percent of the country's GDP by 2030. The report identified three main effects of corruption, especially decreased government effectiveness from a smaller tax base and poor resource distribution. Nigeria experienced #EndBadGovernance protests in 2024. The country has the resources to free itself permanently from US aid. Achieving this requires strong, progressive, principled governance.
From Zimbabwe to Uganda and Tanzania, breaking free from Western "kindness" represents a crucial part of Africa's post-colonial success. The painful contradiction of Western nations giving billions to inefficient African governments that control resource-rich countries must change. African nations must take responsibility for the challenges faced by their underprivileged communities. The lives of everyday Africans should not depend on US aid or Western politicians' decisions. Africa can and must care for its people.
