The recent freeze of US funding for HIV programs in Liberia has raised alarms within the health sector, prompting government officials to reassess their strategies to support people living with HIV.
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning (MFDP) has begun evaluating the repercussions of foreign aid withdrawal, taking steps to mitigate its impact through prioritized strategies.
Concurrently, the Ministry of Health has allocated $300,000 for the distribution of critical commodities, aiming to sustain services after the World Food Programme halted its support.
In an effort to limit service disruptions, the MOH is deploying its own staff for HIV services, focusing on integration and sustainability.
Despite these efforts, the impact of the funding freeze has been stark. FHI360, a USAID-funded organization, faced initial suspension but received a waiver, allowing 26 healthcare facilities across four counties to resume essential services—such as case finding, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) for pregnant and breastfeeding mothers, and referral services. However, critical prevention services for key populations remain unaddressed.
Meanwhile, JHIEPGO and Global Fund-supported programs for key populations have only recently resumed their community PrEP initiatives. Unfortunately, funding cuts have led to the cessation of essential programs supporting vulnerable communities, with seven implementing partners discontinued, resulting in considerable gaps in HIV prevention and case-finding services.
