The Interview Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South African health minister: The fight against HIV/AIDS continues.
Feb 9, 2026
Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, South Africa’s health minister and medical doctor who led the country’s vast HIV treatment programme. He talks about coping with US aid cuts and emergency funding, balancing self-sufficiency with global solidarity. Discussion covers research funding gaps, PEPFAR challenges, the 1.1 million treatment push, and phased rollout of new prevention drug Lennacapavir.
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Self-Sufficiency Without Abandoning Solidarity
- Aaron Motsoaledi argues South Africa must mobilise local resources and pursue self-sufficiency in health funding.
- He stresses this should not replace global solidarity because pandemics cross borders and require cooperation.
Make Emergency Funding A Stopgap
- Use emergency treasury funding to plug immediate gaps like data capturers and research while moving to permanent solutions.
- Provinces must hire staff previously funded by donors to maintain services and hit targets.
Matched Funding To Patch Donor Withdrawals
- Private foundations can bridge sudden donor withdrawals through matched funding arrangements with government.
- Motsoaledi describes a pooled package from Gates, Wellcome and Treasury to stabilise research funding.