About PEPFAR SA

What is PEPFAR?

The United States President’s Emergency Fund for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) is the U.S. Government (USG) initiative to help save the lives of those infected with and affected by HIV/AIDS around the world. PEPFAR works through partnerships with national governments, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), civil society and other organizations to among others; provide life-saving HIV and TB medication and improving overall health systems.

The PEPFAR initiative started in 2003 with an initial allocation of $15 billion to urgently respond to HIV/AIDS, TB and Malaria through providing financial and technical support across several affected countries including South Africa (SA). 

How is PEPFAR benefitting South Africans?

Since 2004, South Africa and the United States have partnered to address HIV/AIDS and TB and improve the health of South Africans. To date, more than 17 million South Africans have been assisted through PEPFAR funding (over R25 billion, or US $3.2 billion) to support HIV/AIDS prevention, care, and treatment.  

In December 2010, PEPFAR announced an additional one-time donation of $120 million (R900 million) for life-saving HIV/AIDS drugs (ARVs). In 2010, the number of South Africans receiving ARVs through PEPFAR funding and support increased to 910,700, up from 646,772 individuals in 2009. In 2011, this number rose to over one million people - 1,011,353.