Although taxpayer money now funds the bulk of South Africas HIV programme, getting to the point where we have the largest HIV treatment programme in the world, would not have been possible without donor support.
But the reality is that the golden age of health development assistance is over. Can there be opportunity in adversity?
South Africa could use the current situation to take seriously that HIV is a chronic disease and integrate its management into primary healthcare.
For example, research shows that people older than 50 who are on ARVs may be up to four times more likely to have another chronic condition such as high blood pressure or diabetes, and with South Africas ageing HIV population, offering services for primary health issues and HIV together can be a smart plan.
In this op-ed, Yogan Pillay breaks down what a more integrated approach to HIV services could look like.
Intodays newsletter, Mia Malan asks what our new HIV plan should be.Sign up for our newsletter today.
COMMENT
Earlier this month, Health Minister Aaron Motsoaledi announced that South Africa will get R2-billion of bridging funds from the United States US Presidents Emergency Plan for Aids Relief Pepfar to run until the end of March next year, which Cabinet said would ensure uninterrupted HIV service delivery.