By Rumbie Gumbie – Researcher
The abrupt freeze in U.S. global health funding has sent shockwaves through Zimbabwe’s healthcare system, forcing entire organizations to shut down, leaving many workers unemployed, and putting life-saving HIV treatment programs at risk. Following an executive order issued by U.S. President Donald Trump on January 20, 2025, titled Reevaluating and Realigning United States Foreign Aid, most U.S. foreign assistance was paused for 90 days, throwing the health sector into turmoil.
For years, USAID and PEPFAR have been the backbone of Zimbabwe’s HIV response, funding critical services such as antiretroviral therapy (ART), prevention programs, and community outreach. PEPFAR provides ARVs to over 20 million people worldwide, and in Zimbabwe, it is the primary provider of these life-saving medications. With U.S. support now uncertain, people living with HIV (PLHIV) fear for their survival, and facilities that once depended on foreign aid may struggle to keep their doors open.
Although a limited waiver was granted under a humanitarian waiver, which sees PEPFAR resume its work supporting HIV programs, the reality of the situation on the ground remains dire. News of the funding freeze caused some health facilities to reportedly lock cabinets containing U.S.-supplied drugs, unsure whether they could still dispense them. Some PLHIV had started hoarding medication or skipping doses to stretch their supply—a dangerous practice that has the potential to increase the risk of drug resistance. Others had stopped visiting clinics altogether, fearing the worst.
For PLHIV, this funding freeze is not just an abstract policy—it is a matter of survival. The threat to ART supplies is immediate and real. Already battling stigma, many PLHIV have turned to traditional or spiritual remedies in search of stability. Even long-time HIV advocates hesitate to speak out, uncertain about what the future holds. The funding freeze has deepened anxiety, not just for those reliant on treatment, but also for healthcare workers who now face an uncertain professional future.
As discussions about the freeze continue; the consensus is clear: waiting for foreign donors to resolve the crisis is not an option. There is an urgent need for locally driven and international support, through international cooperation, and contingency plans to keep essential health services operational.
The next 90 days will decide whether the district’s health facilities weather the storm or crumble under its weight. Regardless of what happens, one thing is certain: the scars left by this funding freeze will endure long after this initial shock.
