April 2025 LabCoP ECHO Session on 15 April

Tuesday, 15th April 2025 In this ASLM LabCoP Monthly ECHO session, we shared the history, impact, and potential mitigation strategies to avert the devastating impact of the current reduction in foreign assistance funding. The recent US government stop work order has the potential to negate the gains in the HIV response towards achieving global targets for viral suppression and avert new infections and deaths unless governments take meaningful steps to continue funding these initiatives. In this session, we covered the history of PEPFAR, the devastating impact of the immediate funding freeze thus far in Africa, and the anticipated effects on social, economic, and health programs. In addition, we also discussed national-level potential mitigating strategies for both the short and long term. Presenter: • Prof. Francois Venter, Executive Director, Wits Ezintsha Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Witwatersrand Johannesburg, South Africa