Stephen Lewis Foundation Welcomes Waiver Allowing Continuation of Antiretrovirals

Statement shared by Niloufar Pourzand

The Stephen Lewis Foundation (SLF) welcomes the waiver by the U.S. State Department allowing the distribution of antiretroviral medicines (ARVs) during the 90-day freeze on U.S. international assistance and review of all aid. However, we cannot be complacent and we must continue to demand further change.

The “stop-work” orders continue to cause chaos, confusion and denial of essential services. Additionally, this waiver is only for the 90 days with no guarantees of what happens next.

The lack of clear direction in the waiver leaves much to interpretation, meaning access to services may resume in some places and not others. Much important life-saving work may not be interpreted as such by the U.S. government and therefore not seen as included in this waiver.

There is no clarity that it allows for HIV testing, which means that people who might have otherwise been tested and started on antiretroviral treatment (ART) will live with the virus undetected. This puts them and their partners at risk. People who use ARVs as PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) to prevent transmission may not receive their medicines if it is falsely seen to fall out of the “core life-saving medicines and medical services” allowance. Pregnant people who would be tested as part of their antenatal care may not be tested and, if need be, started on ARVs for their own health and to stop the transmission of the virus to their babies.

Without a full waiver for HIV services in all their forms, people will continue to acquire HIV and people will continue to get sick with AIDS-related illnesses and die.

At the SLF we continue to support our community-led partners with flexible funding and call on other funders to quickly provide full flexibility of their funding as well.

We call on everyone who has the means to give to organizations that are supporting the global #HIV response with flexible funding. And we ask everyone everywhere — individuals, foundations, faith-based communities, the private sector and governments — to raise a collective cry for U.S. decision makers to permanently end this murderous policy.