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🇳🇵 Nepal /Health & Science

US aid freeze disrupts HIV outreach and treatment services in Nepal

From Kathmandu Post · () English

Summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • US funding cuts have disrupted HIV prevention and treatment programs in Nepal for 19 months.
  • The suspension of USAID-funded initiatives has left at-risk populations without access to pre-exposure prophylaxis and other essential services.
  • A report warns of increased HIV and STD risks, potentially reversing years of progress and investment in combating the epidemic.

Thousands in Nepal are facing renewed risks of HIV and other sexually transmitted diseases due to a 19-month halt in U.S. government-funded health programs. The suspension of USAID initiatives has cut off access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a crucial HIV prevention medication, for at-risk groups including female sex workers, gay men, and people who inject drugs.

We don’t have our own programme to provide pre-exposure prophylaxis medication to the at-risk populations.

— Dr Sarbesh SharmaDirector at the National Centre for AIDS and STD Control, explaining the lack of alternative programs for PrEP.

Beyond PrEP, numerous other vital USAID-funded programs have ceased. These include awareness campaigns, counseling services, behavioral change initiatives, and targeted interventions. The abrupt halt in funding has also disrupted antiretroviral treatment (ART) distribution, community outreach, and follow-up care for people living with HIV, leaving them without consistent access to life-saving medication.

Since our clinics are shut, we have lost contact with several of our clients.

— a service providerQuoted in the BMJ Public Health report, describing the impact of clinic closures on patient follow-up.

A report published in BMJ Public Health highlights the severe consequences, noting that the loss of funding led to the abrupt suspension of HIV services not only in Nepal but also in Colombia and Kenya. Service providers report losing contact with clients as clinics have closed, and community volunteers have stopped home deliveries of ART. Government ART centers lack the outreach workers needed to reach these vulnerable populations, exacerbating the situation.

Our community volunteers have also stopped home-delivery of ART to those who are unable to visit the clinics.

— a service providerQuoted in the BMJ Public Health report, detailing the cessation of essential home-delivery services.

Community health worker programs, which previously bridged the gap between government services and affected communities, were among the first to be defunded. Respondents fear this will lead to delayed diagnoses, loss to follow-up, and an increase in preventable deaths. The report warns that if services cannot be provided, HIV cases will soar, potentially undoing years of progress and significant investment in combating the epidemic.

If we cannot give service, the number of HIV cases will soar.

— another respondentQuoted in the BMJ Public Health report, expressing concern about the potential rise in HIV cases.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Kathmandu Post. Summarized and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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