The Western Cape Government has y welcomed the announcement of R590 million in additional funding earmarked for provincial health departments to strengthen HIV and tuberculosis (TB) programmes.

The funding injection, revealed by National Health Minister Dr Aaron Motsoaledi during his recent budget speech, comes at a critical time following significant cuts to international donor funding earlier this year.

In the Western Cape alone, the loss of donor funding amounted to approximately R360 million, severely affecting around 10 non-governmental organisations (NGOs) and putting nearly 700 jobs at risk. The withdrawal disrupted essential services focused on prevention, treatment, and ongoing care for people living with HIV and TB.

Western Cape Minister of Health and Wellness, Mireille Wenger, described the funding as a vital boost to ongoing efforts to protect and support residents.

“We welcome this additional funding to support residents in their health journeys to recover from TB and to manage and prevent HIV,” she said.

“In the Western Cape, we have been hard at work mitigating the effects of the funding shortfalls and planning for the future of HIV and TB programmes based on various funding scenarios. We have co-created a tiered response to ensure continuity of critical and essential services while adapting to the unfolding funding realities, with agility and foresight.”

The new allocation will allow the province to intensify efforts in key areas, including digitising health records, enhancing data systems, and stabilising the healthcare workforce.

“This funding will allow us to intensify efforts in priority areas, accelerate the digitisation of health records to strengthen data systems, and allocate additional resources to stabilise and support the health system,” Wenger said.

“Our goal remains clear, to ensure that residents continue to receive the high-quality HIV and TB care they deserve.”

Previously, donor funding played a crucial role in supporting community outreach, health education, counselling, adherence support, and mobile X-ray services. It also funded technical services and health systems strengthening, such as testing and data analysis.

In response to the recent funding cuts, the Western Cape Government acted quickly to mitigate the impact by fast-tracking the digitisation of patient records and prescriptions and expanding multi-month prescription programmes.

These measures allowed stable patients, including those on antiretroviral therapy (ART), to collect medication less frequently, easing the burden on clinics.

Western Cape Minister of Finance, Deidré Baartman, underscored the importance of the funding, calling it both a lifeline and an investment in the province’s future.

“This allocation of funds is not just a financial lifeline, it is an investment in the health and dignity of our residents,” she said.

“The Western Cape Government has a proven track record of delivery and is ready to make every Rand count. We call on the National Treasury to issue the allocation letters to provinces without delay, and to ensure that these funds are distributed swiftly and fairly so that we can continue our work uninterrupted.”

The Western Cape Government reaffirmed its commitment to building a resilient healthcare system that leaves no one behind in the fight against HIV and TB, ensuring that every resident receives the care and support they deserve.

IOL News

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