Donald Trump’s Suspension of USAID: How African leaders should respond to antiretroviral (ARV) drug shortages, by Abubakar M. Kareto
African leaders and African countries must adopt a strategic and logical approach in responding to Donald J. Trump’s decision to suspend USAID.
The US is a major manufacturer of HIV/AIDS drugs, and it’s not only USAID that patronises American pharmaceutical companies; many other organisations do too. In 2023, triple HIV therapy generated worldwide sales of roughly $12 billion for a U.S. company called Gilead. This resulted in significant revenue generation and the creation of numerous jobs in the U.S, Sub-Saharan Africa, homes to 65% of the people living with HIV globally, therefore, Africa is a major consumer of the drugs produced in the U.S.
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Let Africa buy these drugs by itself; we are ok with that. To hell with the funds from the U.S. We can stand and survive without the so-called aid from the U.S.
However, we must buy from African pharmaceutical companies. Recently, the South African Health Products Regulatory Authority granted a license for pharmaceutical companies in Isando to produce antiretroviral (ARV) drugs to treat HIV. These companies include Mylan, Viatris, and a joint venture with Lonza, all in South Africa.
Numerous African nations, particularly South Africa and Uganda, possess the capacity to locally produce HIV medications, with certain corporations already engaged in the manufacturing of antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. African nations possess the capacity to manufacture these pharmaceuticals domestically.
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Procuring HIV/AIDS commodities and other health products within the continent will expand continental production, ultimately saving lives, improving health equity and security, and enhancing the continent’s capacity to respond to future health emergencies.
Africa can empower companies owned by Africans and operating in Africa to produce these drugs or companies owned by foreigners but operating in Africa. At worst we should buy from India, but definitely not America.
Let us be strong enough to maintain our status as persona non grata with the USA as declared by Trump’s recent decisions until further determinations are made through mutual understanding by both Africa and the U.S.
Abubakar M. Kareto is a Public Affairs Analyst, Development Agenda Enthusiast, and a Concerned Citizen.
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