‘My wife fears sex, I fear death’ happymamay

Life has been turned for Mike Elvis Tussiopra, a motorcycle frying contestant with HIV in Uganda, upside down since US President Donald Trump stopped foreign aid last month.

Not only is the 35-year-old fear of his own survival because he takes the drug savior (ARV)-but he says that he will have to separate from his wife because they can no longer have safe sex.

A negative HIV and depends on preparatory, a drug that reduces the risk of HIV infection.

“This means that even my marriage will end, because in reality without preventive measures, it will not remain,” he told the BBC.

“No condoms, no [anti-HIV] Lubricating materials, not preparatory, nothing. We cannot stay in marriage without meeting. This means that I must remain single. “

All drugs and contraceptives are provided with couple thanks to funding from the main foreign relief agency of the United States government.

Since the sudden closure, which he heard about on social media, they have not been able to renew their supplies. His wife has completely exhausted from preparatory now and that both of them are afraid to rely only on a condom – they have some left – fraught with risks.

Trump ordered the temporary stop for 90 days on foreign aid on his first day in his position, after which he began to stop working for organizations funded by the United States Agency for International Development.

Exemptions were later released to humanitarian projects, but by that time the HIV program, Mr. Tusubira, was part of the MarPi clinic in the north of the capital, KAMPALA – was closed.

Call the phone consultant at the third health center in the city to find out what is going on.

“He was a consultant in the village. He told me that he was no longer in the clinic.”

One father, who has positively established HIV in 2022, has been absent, since then a test to determine the amount of the virus in its blood and the strength of the immune system.

“I move in the dark, in the dark. I don’t know if my viral fool is suppressed.

He does not believe that his job is driving a motorcycle taxi – known locally as “Boda Buda” – will be able to help his family overcome the obstacles they face now.

“Some other people say that medications will be in private pharmacies … as a Buda Boda contestant, I don’t know if I can raise money to keep my treatment.”

They were also affected by the loss of services provided by NGOs (NGOs) that have received funding from the United States Agency for International Development.

His wife was getting preparatory through a non -governmental organization in Marbie, and his five -year -old son benefited from one who provides school and food for vulnerable children.

“My child is no longer at school now,” he said.

The health sector in Uganda depends greatly on donor financing, which supports 70 % of the means of means.

The East Africa Nation is among the top 10 recipients of the American International Development Agency funds in Africa. According to US government data, the country received 295 million dollars (234 million pounds) in health financing from the agency in 2023 – where it ranked third after Nigeria, which won $ 368 million and a tears with $ 337 million.

The American Agency for International Development also supports Malaria, SLA, tuberculosis and leprosy programs – as well as financing for mother and child health and health assistance in emergency situations.

Thousands of health care workers were affected by the freezing of American financing.

Dr. Shamira Naqueto, a doctor who communicates with MBUYA (ROM) – a religious community -based community that provides medical and psychological support to people with HIV in Uganda – at the fourth Kissini Health Center, which serves a heavy poor in Kampala.

On average, I attended 200 patients with HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis daily. But after the stopping order, all health -backed health workers were discharged.

The tuberculosis unit stands in silence now, and the orphanage and children with weak children have been closed in Kissini.

“We are waiting for 90 days. So, this mandatory leave, I did not prepare for that,” she told the BBC.

“It was very surprising. We had no appropriate delivery in the facility. We stopped working.”

Uganda’s Ministry of Health says it explores ways to reduce disturbances.

Dr. Diana Atwin, the highest civilian employee in the ministry, urged the employees “ready to continue to work in the spirit of patriotism as volunteers” to communicate.

To the south in Malawi, the activities of the United States Agency for International Development also stopped.

The country has received $ 154 million in the US Agency for International Development in 2023, making it the tenth of the largest recipient in Africa.

In the northern city of Mazuo, gates are closed in a clinic that was a major provider of HIV services in the region. Holding vehicles in lethargy mode. There is no sign of activity in the Macro Mzuzu clinic. The workers closed the doors, turned off the lights and returned home 18 days ago.

Despite the waiver of the US State Department on January 28, which allowed the delivery of medicines such as Arvs, many clinics were closed as if the important employees who coordinate the activities of the United States Agency for International Development, the distribution of medicines is a challenge.

Even if services are allowed technically, many contracts remain in a state of forgetfulness. Health workers are not sure than they can and what they cannot do.

The Trump administration plans to reduce the United States Agency for International Development by more than 90 %.

ATUL GAWANE, former U.S. International Health Assistant Director at the International Development Agency, has published that the agency’s workforce will be reduced from 14,000 to 294 – with only 12 employees in Africa.

More than 30 non -governmental organizations in Malawi have also been severely affected by freezing financing.

Eddah Simfukwe Banda, a 32 -year -old dawn farmer, has been getting ARVS since 2017 from the macro clinic, where various NGOs have provided HIV programs.

She is concerned about her fate-and her sister’s photo, which also depends on donor-funded drugs-and she says is a little option but prayer.

“We have to pray as a mine. Those of us believe depend on a god that opens the doors when one is closed,” she told the BBC.

“As Malawi, we rely a lot on receiving aid. Sometimes, we are lazy, vocalized and rely on other countries to help we.”

“Let this be a lesson we must be independent,” she said.

But this is difficult for one of the poorest and most poorest countries in the world. According to the World Bank, Malawi is vulnerable to external shocks – including prolonged dehydration, hurricanes and irregular rain.

The disruption of this size in the health care system represents a tremendous challenge.

For decades, the United States was the most important public health partner in Africa.

In particular, through its pioneering program to counter the global spread of HIV, which was launched in 2003. He called the Emergency Plan for the American President of AIDS, has saved more than 25 million people.

According to the head of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), the United States Agency for International Development provided $ 8 billion in assistance in Africa during the past year.

“Seventy -three percent went to health care,” Jean Cassia told BBC Newsday last month.

Health experts warn that replacing this financing will be very difficult.

African governments have made steps to reduce dependence on aid. Kenya now finances approximately 60 % of HIV response. South Africa covers approximately 80 %.

But for many low -income countries, debt burdens, climate disasters and economic shocks make self -sufficiency almost impossible.

Amref Health Africa, one of the leading health organizations on the continent, warns that without urgent work, global health security is in danger.

“This will require African and Africa CDC to increase their financing, which is almost impossible under the current distress conditions of debt,” Dr. Getinji Gitahay, CEO of Dr. Getahi, told the BBC.

“With the acceleration of disease outbreaks from climate change and human environmental conflict, this would leave the world fragile and unsafe – not only for Africa but for everyone.”

Throughout the world in 2023, there were 630,000 AIDS and 1.5 million new injuries.

While infection rates decrease in the worst affected countries, the effect of the US Agency for International Development can reflect these gains.

“If this main contribution is acquired by the United States government, we expect that in the next five years, there will be 6.3 million deaths related to AIDS,” Winnie Pianima, head of the Linguistic Diseases Department, Tell the BBC daily podcast this week.

“There will be 8.7 million new infections, 3.4 million additional AIDS orphans. I do not want to look like the Prophet of destruction, but I have the duty to give the facts as we see them.”

Médecins Sans Frontières (MSF) also warned of the dangers of HIV boycott.

“HIV drugs should be taken daily or people are at risk of developing resistance or deadly health complications,” Tom Elaman, from the southern goals of South African Malikio, said in a statement.

Again in Uganda, Mr. Tusubira feels inflammation of the future.

He has about 30 days of his ARV drugs – he may choose to leave Kampala and return to his village after that.

“At least it will be a little simpler. If she dies, they bury me there, instead of disturbing my people here in Kampala.

“Because I have no way I can live here without ARV services.”