Jamaica and Trinidad, along with several other Caribbean nations, will continue to receive HIV treatment and funding under the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) in 2025, despite a 90-day suspension of foreign aid. This decision comes after US Secretary of State Marco Rubio signed a waiver on Wednesday. UNAIDS welcomed the move, noting that the “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver” approved by Rubio will ensure ongoing access to life-saving HIV treatment across 55 partner countries globally.
More than 20 million people living with HIV—representing two-thirds of those globally receiving treatment—are directly supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the world’s leading HIV initiative. UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, expressed support for the recent decision, stating:
“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the US government, which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV medication during the assessment of US foreign development assistance.”
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima praised the US government’s urgent decision, saying: “This urgent decision recognizes PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.” This follows the announcement of a 90-day funding pause for all foreign assistance, including PEPFAR services, by the US Department of State. The pause, part of an executive order for assessing programmatic efficiency and alignment with US foreign policy, marked one of the first major foreign policy actions of the new administration.
In response, UNAIDS welcomed the waiver, which ensures the continuation of life-saving humanitarian assistance, including core HIV treatment, medical services, and essential supplies for people living with HIV in partner countries.
UNAIDS has committed to ensuring that all people living with or affected by HIV continue to receive support, despite the temporary funding pause on PEPFAR services. The organization emphasized the importance of sustaining critical services, including HIV prevention, care, and support for orphans and vulnerable children.
In a statement, UNAIDS noted that it is working to mobilize and coordinate global efforts at the country level to assess and address the impact of the funding pause on essential HIV services. UNAIDS also called on President Donald J. Trump to prioritize U.S. leadership in the global HIV response, working towards the shared goal of ending AIDS.
According to an unclassified memo, total PEPFAR funding for Trinidad and Tobago in 2023 was just over US$2 million, while Jamaica received US$15.6 million in support.
There are 55 countries where PEPFAR operates, including Trinidad and Tobago, Jamaica and Guyana.
