For the past few years, South African medical doctors have been working on a study to find the cure for HIV.
According to SABC News, South African lab technician, Nozipho Mlotshwa has been working on HIV vaccine trials. She’s been involved in some exciting research, and her team was getting promising results before the project was halted due to US aid cuts.
In her professional capacity, Nozipho works as a medical research laboratory technician, assisting with research projects at the Antiviral Gene Therapy Research Unit (AGTRU) at Wits University.
This comes after Donald Trump paused all non-military foreign assistance for 90 days pending a review. This move, announced through an executive order, affects nearly all forms of non-military foreign aid, including health initiatives, education programs, and water distribution efforts.
South Africans took to X (previously Twitter) to question why the government has not funded the project.
Why can’t the South African government prioritize that project?
— Luther Rukira (@jozikee) February 18, 2025
Another user asked why the government is not funding her if the cure exists.
Why doesn’t the government fund her research if the cure does exist
— Nkosi Sibanda (@Eng_Nkosi) February 18, 2025
One user said that SA should not depend on halt for matters that are crucial things. The government should be prioritising the research.
We can’t depend on USAID for such critical things. The government should be priorizing things like this, even if it takes years to get right.
— KG (@Kagis7) February 18, 2025
Other users shared their views mentioning that when it comes to things such as finding cures or preventions for illnesses, they should not expose people’s names.
Also see: Mzansi weighs in on the United States’ newly elected President Donald Trump
