South African lab technicians have lost all support in their quest to discover an HIV vaccine following a directive from United States President Donald Trump to cut all aid to South Africa.
The U.S. withdrew its support due to South Africa’s recent enactment of a land expropriation law signed by President Cyril Ramaphosa. Trump opposes the law, viewing it as a threat to people of foreign descent living in South Africa.
Reports indicate that South Africa, in collaboration with the United States, was nearing a breakthrough in developing a potential HIV vaccine. However, the project was abruptly halted after the immediate suspension of United States Agency for International Development (USAID) operations in South Africa.
Additional reports explain that the lab tests were part of a broader South African-led HIV vaccine development initiative known as BRILLIANT, which was entirely funded by a $45 million grant from USAID.
The chances of the project’s resumption without U.S. aid are slim, as the U.S. State Department has yet to comment on the strict measure.
“It feels like you’re building something and you could really make a huge difference… ; and then it’s wiped away.” project partner and Chief Scientific Officer at the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, Nigel Garrett lamented.
This project is described as one of many research efforts worldwide affected by Trump’s actions since taking office last month. Other impacted initiatives include efforts to protect food crops from pests and diseases and the blocking of a paper on the mpox outbreak.
