Our so-called HIV key populations men who have sex with men, transgender women, sex workers and people who inject drugs, and, in Africa also young women have been hard hit ever since the Trump administration stopped most of its HIV funding in February .
Key populations have a much higher chance of getting HIV than general populations which is why Pepfar, over the past decade, allocated most of its funds to programmes working with such groups.
With the 12 specialised key population clinics in South Africa funded by the US government, and now shuttered, getting treatment at government clinics has been difficult, if not impossible, for some.
As one sex worker we talked to told us: Its like crossing the freeway every day the way were living now. One day, I know Im gonna die.
In todays newsletter , Tanya Pampalone and Mia Malan share heartbreaking stories about the human cost of the Trump administrations HIV funding cuts. Sign up for our newsletter today.
Hello, sis. How are you? I hope youre fine. I mean, Im not.
A lot has been going on out there, he told Bhekisisa in the voicemail, one of the many we recently received.
You know, Im a gay guy. I have sex with other men, without wearing condoms now, because when I try to fetch them from my local clinic, Im told I get judged and told I want too many. You know whats happening in our industry.
We will call him Nkosi. Because he has sex with men and because his industry is sex work and because no one in the small community where he lives knows that he is gay or what he does for work. He even has a girlfriend so people will think hes straight.