Latest news with #EmergencyPlanforAIDSRelief
IOL News
14 hours ago
- Politics
- IOL News
DA to Ramaphosa: Fire Nkabane now — Parliament ‘won't tolerate corruption as governance'
Higher Education Minister Nobuhle Nkabane at the swearing-in ceremony of ministers from his Government of National Unity (GNU) Cabinet. Image: Supplied. Democratic Alliance MP, Jeanne Adriaanse, has renewed her party's call for President Cyril Ramaphosa to fire Higher Education Minister Dr Nobuhle Nkabane, accusing her of misleading the public and enabling corruption within her department. Speaking during the department's budget debate in the National Council of Provinces (NCOP) on Tuesday, Adriaanse said that the DA has laid a criminal complaint against Nkabane, following revelations that members of the panel responsible for appointing Sector Education and Training Authority (SETA) board chairs had ties—past or present—to the department itself. 'The minister has lost all credibility,' said Adriaanse. 'She is not the right person to lead this portfolio. It's time for President Ramaphosa to fire Minister Nkabane and clean out the ANC's criminal network from the heart of government.' The DA has accused Nkabane of lying about the independence of the appointment process, describing her actions as a blatant disregard for parliamentary oversight. Adriaanse warned that the DA will not allow Parliament to be 'treated with contempt' and said the party will continue to expose what it views as corruption disguised as governance. She also criticised the department's dismal performance, citing a sharp decline in target achievement—from 78% in 2019–2020 to just 51.8%—under Nkabane's leadership. In her defence, Nkabane attributed much of the department's financial struggles to the withdrawal of US funding to tertiary institutions. Video Player is loading. Play Video Play Unmute Current Time 0:00 / Duration -:- Loaded : 0% Stream Type LIVE Seek to live, currently behind live LIVE Remaining Time - 0:00 This is a modal window. Beginning of dialog window. Escape will cancel and close the window. Text Color White Black Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Background Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Opaque Semi-Transparent Transparent Window Color Black White Red Green Blue Yellow Magenta Cyan Transparency Transparent Semi-Transparent Opaque Font Size 50% 75% 100% 125% 150% 175% 200% 300% 400% Text Edge Style None Raised Depressed Uniform Dropshadow Font Family Proportional Sans-Serif Monospace Sans-Serif Proportional Serif Monospace Serif Casual Script Small Caps Reset restore all settings to the default values Done Close Modal Dialog End of dialog window. Advertisement Next Stay Close ✕ 'Out of the 26 public universities, at least 13 were affected by the termination,' she said, referencing a recent executive order signed by US President Donald Trump, which included cuts to vital aid programs such as the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR). Despite these challenges, critics within the DA argue that financial pressure cannot justify compromised governance. "There is a reprieve as for the current Medium Term Expenditure Framework cycle, the department's budget has increased at an average annual rate of 4.4%, in nominal terms," she said. President Cyril Ramaphosa removed Andrew Whitfield, Deputy Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition and a DA member amid allegations of an unauthorised international trip. This triggered mixed emotions from the DA members. The DA also threatened to leave the Government of National Unity (GNU). Meanwhile, the ANC Youth League (ANCYL) has denounced the DA's decision to lay criminal charges against Nkabane, calling it a 'coordinated attack' with political motives. 'Let's not allow South African society to be misled by people who want to create a facade on matters with political interests,' said ANCYL secretary-general Mntuwoxolo Ngudle in an interview with the public broadcaster. 'This is a democratic country, governed by active legislation. Let's not allow a coordinated attack on a young female minister.' IOL Politics
Extra.ie
14 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Extra.ie
Bono slams USAID slash in video with Barack Obama and George W. Bush
Bono has joined former U.S. Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush in a video message for U.S. Agency for International Development, or USAID, staff members, criticising Donald Trump's dismantling of the agency and thanking staffers for their work. USAID's 63 years of operation in over 60 countries came to an end on July 1, as it was officially absorbed into the U.S. State Department, with 83% of its programmes slashed under the orders of Secretary of State Marco Rubio. USAID previously conducted programmes seeking peace and security in countries including Ukraine, Gaza, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Yemen, South Sudan and Afghanistan. The video was not released publicly, but parts were shared with The Associated Press. 'Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it's a tragedy. Because it's some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world,' Obama said. Obama and Bush have rarely spoken out against the current president and administration, in accordance with traditional protocols for former presidents. Bush chose to address cuts of the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, or PEPFAR, a global HIV/AIDS program credited with preventing 25 million deaths from the diseases in Africa, Asia and the Caribbean. 'You've shown the great strength of America through your work, and that is our good heart,' Bush said. 'Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.' Bono has a history of advocating for global health initiatives, founding the charity ONE to lobby for the passage of health and development programs, including PEPFAR. He has received numerous awards for his activism. Bono recently called for an end to the war in Gaza at the Ivor Novella Awards in May and earlier, faced pushback from Trump for denouncing USAID cuts. He spoke to Hot Press about his music, politics and activism. He was revealed as a special guest in the video, surprising attendees. 'It's not left-wing rhetoric to feed the hungry, heal the sick…If this isn't murder, I don't know what is,' Bono said. Bono praised USAID staffers as 'secret agents of international development.' He went on to recite an original poem honouring the staffers and their work while reportedly visibly holding back tears. He praised their efforts to prevent disease outbreaks, provide clean water and food to civilians in war zones and avoid instances of famine. 'They called you crooks. When you were the best of us,' Bono said. 'And don't think any less of us when politics makes a mess of us.'
Mint
a day ago
- Politics
- Mint
Barack Obama, George Bush slam Trump over USAID shutdown and global health fallout
Former US Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush have criticised President Donald Trump's decision to shut down the US Agency for International Development (USAID), warning the move will cause millions of avoidable deaths and damage America's global standing. The former Presidents spoke in recorded messages played for USAID staff on Monday (June 30), the agency's final day as an independent organisation after six decades of operation. A new Lancet study estimated the sweeping cuts could lead to more than 14 million additional deaths by 2030, including over 4 million children. 'Unless the abrupt funding cuts announced and implemented in the first half of 2025 are reversed, a staggering number of avoidable deaths could occur by 2030,' the researchers concluded. They warned the impact on lower-income nations would be comparable to a 'global pandemic or a major armed conflict.' Francisco Saúte, director of Mozambique's Manhiça Health Research Centre and a study co-author, said: 'Cutting this funding now not only puts lives at risk – it also undermines critical infrastructure that has taken decades to build.' USAID was established in 1961 under President John F. Kennedy and had long enjoyed bipartisan support. But the Trump administration made it a target, with Trump branding it 'radical left lunatics' and 'tremendous fraud,' while Elon Musk called it 'a criminal organisation.' In March, Secretary of State Marco Rubio announced that 83% of USAID programs were canceled, and the agency would be folded into a new office under the State Department called 'America First.' Obama's remarks were unequivocal: 'Gutting USAID is a travesty, and it's a tragedy. Because it's some of the most important work happening anywhere in the world.' He credited USAID for saving lives, spurring economic development, and creating new US trade partners. 'Sooner or later, leaders on both sides of the aisle will realise how much you are needed,' he added. 'Your work has mattered and will matter for generations to come.' George W. Bush focused on the cuts to the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a program credited with saving over 25 million lives since its creation. 'Is it in our national interests that 25 million people who would have died now live? I think it is, and so do you.' He thanked USAID staff: 'You've showed the great strength of America through your work – and that is your good heart.' PEPFAR funding had been set to support the rollout of long-acting HIV prevention drugs in developing countries later this year, but advocates now fear those plans are in jeopardy.
Chicago Tribune
3 days ago
- Health
- Chicago Tribune
As HIV research gutted at federal level, NWI man shares his HIV story
Jeremy Gregson was sitting in his Northwest Indiana home two years ago when he got the call that his blood work from earlier in the day came back positive for HIV. Gregson, 48, said he suffered a stroke in 2023, and when he went to his doctor for follow-up care he told her to test him for everything. Within 30 minutes of testing his blood sample, the doctors learned he was HIV positive, he said. With that knowledge, Gregson said doctors believe his stroke was caused by the HIV virus in his system. Gregson said he approached his diagnosis with medical reasoning, in that he knew what to do next: Get set up with the Aliveness Project of NWI, which is a STD and HIV/AIDS prevention and awareness organization, get medication and get an infectious disease doctor. 'With today's technology and medicines, it's treatable so I said, 'Okay, I'll take a pill,'' Gregson said. 'It was like, 'I'll just take medicine and be fine.'' Human immunodeficiency virus, HIV, damages the immune system, which results in the body being less able to fight infection and disease. Over time, if untreated, HIV can become acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, AIDS, according to the Mayo Clinic. HIV is spread through sexual intercourse, contact with blood or through childbirth. There is no cure for HIV or AIDS, but medicines can control the infection, according to the Mayo Clinic. The most challenging part of his diagnosis, Gregson said, was that his doctor didn't perform the proper testing to determine when he first became HIV positive. Gregson said he has since found a new doctor, and on June 25 he went to take a specialized test to hopefully determine when he first came in contact with the infection. Currently, Gregson takes a pill daily as treatment and his viral load has been so low that he's undetectable. But, Gregson said his viral load has to decrease a little more to qualify for a bimonthly shot, which is his and his doctor's goal. Overall, Gregson said his life has stayed mostly the same since his diagnosis. Recently, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. laid off the entire staff of the federal government's Office of Infectious Disease and HIV/AIDS Policy, as part of a restructuring plan that involved cutting 20,000 HHS positions. Gregson said that move left him feeling confused. 'How does research and testing affect him or anyone else in the government? What is this guy doing?' Gregson said. 'We're so close. They're already testing cures in other countries, and it's working. Why can't we just get this and move forward?' Kennedy has also engaged in HIV and AIDS denialism in one of his books. Protesters interrupted a U.S. Senate hearing on Wednesday where Office of Management and Budget Director Russell Vought was recommending a $400 million cut to global health programs like the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), which has helped save 26 million lives and helped nearly 8 million babies to be born HIV-free across the world, according to the George W. Bush Institute. Cutting funding would endanger access to lifesaving antiretroviral medication for more than 20 million people and could put babies at risk of contracting HIV or losing their parents to the disease, the Bush Institute's statement said. The Aliveness Project Program Director Antoinette Cardenas said in a statement that the organization is 'deeply concerned about the federal government's decision to significantly reduce funding and dismantle key HIV/AIDS research.' 'These changes not only jeopardize the progress we've made in prevention, treatment and education but also send a harmful message to communities still disproportionately impacted by HIV — particularly Black, brown, LGBTQ+, and low-income individuals,' Cardenas said. Federal research had played a critical role in improving health outcomes, advancing treatment options and addressing stigma, Cardenas said. 'Scaling back this support risks reversing hard-won gains, especially in areas like Northwest Indiana, where disparities in care and access remain stark,' Cardenas said. The Aliveness Project will remain committed to serving those living with HIV/AIDS through HIV testing, prevention and education, harm reduction, linkage to care and comprehensive care management, Cardenas said. The organization will also expand local partnerships and seek alternative funding sources to sustain and grow its services, Cardenas said. 'We urge federal leaders to reconsider these cuts and reinvest in life-saving research that protects vulnerable populations and upholds public health. Lives depend on it,' Cardenas said. After the layoffs were announced, HIV + Hepatitis Policy Institute executive director Carl Schmid released a statement stating the U.S. cannot take a break from researching and treating infectious diseases as it will result in a rise in infections and medical costs. 'This was not done to increase government efficiency but was a blatant attack on specific communities and populations. With all of these cuts, how are we going to, as Secretary Kennedy repeatedly says, 'Make America Healthy Again'?' Schmid said. UNAIDS released a statement in May ahead of International Day against homophobia, biphobia and transphobia that despite progress in the HIV response LGBTQI+ communities have seen an increase in new HIV infections. Since 2010, new HIV infections have dropped 35% among adults globally, while new HIV infections have increased 11% among gay men and by 3% among trans people, according to the release. 'Threats to the lives and dignity of LGBTI people are escalating worldwide and cuts to foreign and development aid, as well as rollbacks in diversity, equity and inclusion policies, are only making it worse – especially for our communities,' said Julia Ehrt, ILGA World executive director, in the statement. 'Every day, we see projects and organizations to advance safety, well-being and dignity being shut down.' UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said the organization will continue to support LGBTQ communities throughout the world. 'We must continue supporting and promoting partnerships of LGBTQI+ movements with people living with HIV, women and girls and other key populations. In unity, communities can find the power to disrupt injustice and drive the changes that are required to end AIDs,' Byanyima said. Gregson said he is hopeful that researchers will find ways to continue pushing forward with their work in HIV/AIDS treatment and research. 'The people in that field do it for the passion,' Gregson said.
Newsweek
7 days ago
- Health
- Newsweek
The Time Is Now for Women and Girls in STEM
Women's health continues to be at risk. This is not news. Women have been excluded and underrepresented in the research and decision-making that shape health care. Their voices, ideas, and leadership are not only overdue, but they are also essential to closing the gaps that continue to put women's lives at risk. Women's health receives less funding for research and treatment than men—at a staggering rate. According to the World Economic Forum, only 1 percent of funding for innovation and research outside of oncology in 2020 went to female-specific conditions. Our concerns are often dismissed by physicians or considered taboo to discuss socially. In a 2022 Kaiser Family Fund Women's Health Survey, 29 percent of women who had seen a health care provider in the prior two years said their doctor had dismissed their concerns, 15 percent said their provider did not believe them, and 13 percent said their provider had suggested they were personally to blame. Photograph of Dr. Karidia Diallo working in a laboratory with an ABI DNA Analyzer machine wearing protective gear, placing samples of DNA with HIV from PEPFAR (countries from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief)... Photograph of Dr. Karidia Diallo working in a laboratory with an ABI DNA Analyzer machine wearing protective gear, placing samples of DNA with HIV from PEPFAR (countries from the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) persons, in order to test their resistance to medications, in 2007. More Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images But it doesn't have to be that way. Increasingly, women are taking a stand, breaking down societal norms that have been in place for decades and approaching health and wellness in a holistic way. Here's how you can help. Get Loud About the Things That Have Previously Made People Uncomfortable. Women spend more than a third of their lives in some state of menopause (peri- or post-) with symptoms ranging from sleep issues and mood changes to hot flashes and weight gain, and yet only a fraction seek treatment. According to the Mayo Clinic, this lack of treatment (stemming from lack of research and awareness), has serious economic implications; the U.S. economy loses approximately $1.8 billion annually due to lost work time related to menopausal symptoms, with total costs, including medical expenses, reaching $26.6 billion. The same is true for women during childbearing years. One in four pregnancies end in miscarriage, and 1 in 8 women will need fertility treatment at some point in their lives; yet the topics are rarely discussed. But the tide is changing, and both issues are reaching mainstream conversation due in part to celebrities willing to share their own personal experiences (think: Naomi Watts and her recently released book, or Meghan Markle and her op-ed penned for The New York Times), and companies like Alloy, Joylux, and Maven Clinic. Examine Longevity From a 360 Perspective. We all want to live longer, better—and it's time for us to expand our perceptions of what that means. Longevity is no longer just about annual checkups, treating illness, eating well, exercising, and sleeping enough. It now includes a more holistic view of health. This shift is especially relevant for women who have longer life expectancies than men, and who are—according to research—more open to holistic and alternative treatments. Research continues to show that well-being and self-perception are just as critical to longevity as other factors. Merz Aesthetics' recently released, Pillars of Confidence: Global Insights on Aesthetics and Self-Affirmation, reinforces this connection, revealing 74 percent of respondents say confidence is essential to overall well-being. The first-of-its-kind study surveyed 15,000 adults from around the world to establish an industry-first connection between our outward appearance, inner self-concept, and overall well-being. The company is also spearheading regenerative aesthetics in a unique and holistic way by investing in products and devices that work with the body's own capabilities to restore, maintain, and enhance skin health at a cellular level. Other areas of focus are neuroplasticity leading to focus in neurotechnology as we look toward brain health and cognitive enhancement, joint treatments through regenerative technologies like platelet rich plasma therapy, and the overarching concept of biohacking. Living longer with a better quality of life is the ultimate—and attainable—goal. Empower More Women in STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics). It should go without saying that if we want change, we need to start from within. While we have made progress on the issue—with women now making up half of all medical school students—we still have a long way to go. Women make up only one-third of all practicing physicians, and the pay gap is staggering, with women earning an estimated $2 million less than their male counterparts over a 40-year career. When you consider the statistic that the prognosis for patients seeing a female doctor is far better than those who see male doctor, with both a lower mortality and chance of hospital readmission—it's shocking we haven't already implemented these changes. Support organizations like the American Medical Women's Association or Women in Medicine, advocate for pay transparency, reach out to your policymakers demanding change, and encourage the girls in your life with interest in STEM to pursue careers in the field. We need them now more than ever. Terri L. Phillips, MD, FAAP, has been chief medical affairs officer at Merz Aesthetics for over five years. The views expressed in this article are the writer's own.
