Additional Context: This quote was collected in September 2025 by a global health expert associated with Physicians for Human Rights, or PHR, documenting the lived experiences of individuals impacted by the transitions in foreign aid, particularly U.S. government funding for HIV/AIDS services. All narrators were recontacted in March 2026 to validate quotes and provide updates. The quote was anonymized by the source.

This respondent, who describes clients no longer knowing that they continued to have access to PrEP at health facilities after program closure, had worked with the CDC and PEPFAR-supported DREAMS program, which focused on reducing new HIV infections among adolescent girls and young women across sub-Saharan Africa. According to PHR, the abrupt end to global health funding caused confusion in the community about what services were available.

Devex Researcher Note: UNAIDS documented "widespread fear and confusion" about the availability of treatment in the aftermath of U.S. aid cuts, particularly among those already living with HIV. AVAC data shows PrEP initiantions falling by one quarter between 2024 and 2025, likely as a compounded effect of supply chain disruptions, outreach capabilities, and lack of adequate information. In South Africa, areas supported by DREAMS outreach had PrEP takeup rates 1.4 times higher than those in the rest of the country.

Source: Physicians for Human Rights