South Africa has joined forces with the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the Welcome Trust to commit R600 million (about $33 million) to safeguard vital medical research threatened by U.S. funding cuts.
The three-year funding package will go to the South African Medical Research Council (SAMRC) and will support work on HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis (TB), maternal and child health, mental health, and overall health system strengthening.
South African Government: R400 million ($22.5 million)
Gates Foundation: R100 million ($5.6 million)
Wellcome Trust: R100 million ($5.6 million)
The funding comes after the United States significantly reduced its contributions to HIV research programs in South Africa a move that could have severely disrupted the country’s public health progress.
“This is a critical moment for South African science and public health,” said Prof. Ntobeko Ntusi, President and CEO of SAMRC. “Without this support, key research programs fighting HIV, TB, and other diseases would have faced major setbacks. We are deeply grateful to the Gates Foundation and Wellcome Trust for partnering with us, and to our government for acting quickly to protect our research capacity.”
South Africa has one of the world’s largest HIV epidemics, with an estimated 7.8 million people living with HIV.
Research has been central to the country’s success in expanding access to life-saving treatment and prevention programs. Continued investment is seen as essential to maintaining these gains and addressing other health challenges.
Beyond HIV and TB, the new funding will also strengthen the country’s ability to tackle mental health issues, reduce maternal and child mortality, and modernize health systems.
Experts say this collaboration shows the importance of global partnerships in protecting research and innovation, especially when political or economic changes threaten long-term projects.
