MEDI1TV Afrique : Suspension de l'USAID : quel impact sur les ONG de lutte contre le SIDA et les autres pandémies ? - 18/03/2025
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00:00Hello and welcome to Health News on Media, for the breaking news of the health sector
00:19on the continent.
00:20And in this issue we will talk about the impact of the suspension for 90 days of the financing
00:27of the American government, mostly managed by the USAID agency, and essentially intended
00:34for the activities of the organizations fighting AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria, a measure
00:41whose effects are already visible on the African continent, only a month that it is in force.
00:48So we will make the point and we will see what African countries can do in the face of this
00:54situation.
00:55The guests, as always, with me on this set, Mrs. Giselle Estelle Takalea, hello ma'am.
01:03So you are the vice-president of the platform of networks and fairs to fight AIDS and other
01:11pandemics in Ivory Coast.
01:13Thank you anyway for accepting our invitation, ma'am.
01:19Also with us, Mr. Guy Philbert, hello Mr. Guy.
01:24Yes, hello sir.
01:25So you are the president of RIP Plus, which is the Ivorian network of organizations of
01:31people living with AIDS.
01:33That's right.
01:34In any case, welcome to the set.
01:37We thank you both for accepting to participate in this show.
01:41I would like to start with you, Mrs. Takalea, to tell us a little about the news on the
01:48subject of suspension for three months of American foreign aid, at the level of the
01:53health sector, of course.
01:55So the first question, when on January 27, President Donald Trump made the decision,
02:01I mean, to freeze the funds, the foreign aid, what effect did it have on you?
02:07Were you shocked?
02:10I have been watching a lot of media, Media TV, for this invitation.
02:16To answer the question, shocked, I can say yes, yes, because it is sudden in fact.
02:24This decision was sudden.
02:26We were shocked because we had our activities on the ground that were impacted, that were
02:32actually impacted.
02:34As soon as President Trump's notification came, non-governmental organizations were
02:40seriously impacted on their activities.
02:43Because there is a large part of American aid that finances these programs, the fight
02:50against AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.
02:53At the level of the purchase of drugs, the financing of awareness campaigns that are
03:00made by community actors, the care of patients, where the community actor also plays a very
03:07important role, and then also the training of health personnel.
03:13Okay.
03:14So you recently held a press conference to describe this situation, which is really
03:21disastrous.
03:22So, clearly, what is the situation that is before you?
03:26How has this really impacted your activities?
03:29First of all, thank you.
03:31On this stage, I would like to thank you for inviting us.
03:35Thank you to the Medi TV channel for inviting us and speaking on behalf of the people living
03:41with HIV and AIDS, who are the people directly impacted by this decision.
03:47It's like a stroke of luck that we got when we got the information.
03:54So we made a certain number of arrangements at our level.
03:58First of all, to reassure our actors, so that they don't panic.
04:02And we tried to understand the content and the outcomes of this decision.
04:08And today, the reality is that during this period, it's already been a month since the
04:15decision was made, we have felt the effects.
04:21Our activities have been disrupted.
04:24Our actors have been disappointed.
04:27Because, as Madam President said, it's an information, an announcement, a decision
04:33to which we did not agree.
04:35Okay.
04:37So, the activities have stopped, Madam President.
04:40The treatments were stopped, or are you still able to continue?
04:45Currently, local NGOs and the International Union have pointed out the difficulties.
04:52This will obviously slow down activities.
04:55And when it slows down activities, it will certainly have an impact on the progress
05:00already made on the public health field.
05:04We have gone far.
05:05And today, after this decision, there are really problems at the level of beneficiaries.
05:13Because if a patient does not take his medication, you see what it can cause as a consequence.
05:22We have already taken the right path, because with the decrease in viral load, which will
05:27be undetectable, we are waiting for the end of the 90s, the early 90s.
05:31And today, a decision has been taken.
05:33And as I said, American aid is a large part of the financing of the fight against
05:39HIV and AIDS.
05:40Of course.
05:41But a large part of it will be done on the vulnerable populations in particular.
05:46Okay.
05:47And what is the message you conveyed during this press conference?
05:51We saw that there are quite a few actors.
05:54Mr. Kay Yeter, we saw Mr. Gangway Dura Pao.
05:57So, what is the message you conveyed?
06:00Yes.
06:01Indeed, we held a press conference.
06:04The message, in fact, is to call on the public opinion and especially the state.
06:09Because we have to take our responsibility now.
06:13It is true that the president has been suspended for three months.
06:16But what do we do?
06:17What do we do?
06:18Disha.
06:19So, for us, it was a way to call on the state.
06:24Because, in fact, there is a contingency plan that the state has made.
06:29We understand.
06:30We want more classes.
06:32We want more classes in this contingency plan, because we do not see the activities
06:36of the community land.
06:38We do not see the community aspects.
06:41We know that the communities have played and are playing a very, very, very important role
06:48in taking care of the people living with HIV.
06:52Okay.
06:53There is the support of the people living with HIV.
06:56There is the advice that the community gives to the people living with HIV.
07:00There is the psychosocial support that is there.
07:03There is this whole chain.
07:05If we do not take into account, in a plan, the activities of the community actors,
07:11you will see that we are a key, in fact.
07:16We are a key.
07:17Okay.
07:18And I think that with regard to these decisions, we have tried to come together.
07:23Because I wanted to tell you that the platform includes more than 12 thematic reasons.
07:31HIV, tuberculosis, parodies, women, young people.
07:37So, we met with other NGOs, civil society, in fact.
07:43Okay.
07:44And I think we decided to make a note, a letter addressed to the president of the National
07:50Council for the Fight Against AIDS, who is His Excellency, Mr. President Alassane Ouattara,
07:57our president.
07:58Okay.
08:00And I think that we have not had a response.
08:04We are a little worried.
08:05We do not know what is happening.
08:06Maybe the president.
08:07Do you know why?
08:08We have this press conference.
08:11To tell the president that we are afraid, we are worried about this situation.
08:17Okay.
08:20We share your concern.
08:22Yes, Mr. Ndiaye.
08:23So, when we got the information, because we had to have basic documents, factual data.
08:31So, we asked, I even called the United States Embassy.
08:36Why send us, address us a note that signifies the temporary suspension of funding for the
08:46fight against HIV and AIDS, American funding.
08:50Well, that was not the case, but the partners of the implementation, who contracted with
08:55our different NGOs, who addressed these different notes.
08:58Okay.
08:59And we even developed and administered a questionnaire to get an idea of the impact
09:05of this decision.
09:06You understand why we are worried.
09:09Because PEPFAR is still an important support in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
09:15By the way, we would like to take advantage of your antennas to thank the American government,
09:21the American citizens, the American contributors, whose funds have allowed us to boost the
09:28fight against HIV and AIDS in Ivory Coast and to put us on the right path to eliminate
09:34HIV and AIDS by 2030.
09:37So, of course.
09:38Here.
09:39So, you organized the press conference, Mrs. Takalia, with all the organizations to
09:44remind the President of the Republic of Ivory Coast that there is an emergency.
09:50So, what should we fear in terms of 30 days if the American President Donald Trump does
09:57not return on his decision and nothing is done nationally?
10:01What should we fear?
10:03Okay.
12:05and you can eliminate them once and for all, but you must always be vigilant and continue
12:13to take your treatment.
12:15So if this help, which is important, and perhaps for which our states do not have the
12:24means to fill this gap, if there is a void and there are ruptures, which is not for me,
12:32we say thank God and that there are ruptures, but there will be complications in the state
12:39of health of these people who are under treatment.
12:42There will be complications and it will be very difficult to control and to raise the
12:48level of elimination.
12:49To raise the level of elimination for 2030, which will really, I mean, beat everything
12:54that exists as an objective.
12:55Very well.
12:56All that we have done as we have to for more than 30 years.
13:03That I tell you.
13:05And this is where I am most worried, because it is a personal fight that I have led,
13:11that I now lead in the associative framework.
13:14And thank God, I have always been disappointed, but if I had to be weakened and return to
13:22the starting box by this decision, I think it is something that I can accept.
13:29So the Ivory Coast is not the only country, it is practically the whole world that is
13:34hit by this measure.
13:36And we have seen in the news countries that already have provisions.
13:40Given the 90-day deadline, what do you do?
13:44Do you certainly think of other sources of funding to face this situation, gentlemen?
13:52Well, yes, we have heard from other countries that, as someone told me, it is a decision
14:02of a sovereign nation.
14:04So each country must take its responsibilities.
14:08That's why we invite our leaders to take our health in hand.
14:14But there are other sources of funding that we can exploit.
14:18The private sector.
14:20Earlier, I gave you the name of the community council.
14:23We can also contract with the private sector, as we can even contract with the public sector,
14:28because we recognize the importance, the added value of these people in the medical care
14:36of people living with HIV.
14:38The state could initially contract to pay the premium, the premium or the reimbursement
14:45that the American funds pay in the event that these funds are not remunerated.
14:51So this is a measure that all of us have received.
14:54Certainly, even our governors, the various ministries also receive a lot from you,
14:59proposals, for example, initiatives, Mrs. Takaléa.
15:04I think that our African heads of state have gathered in Burja, where they have taken
15:12the commitment to allocate 15% of the national health budget.
15:18I think the time has come.
15:20It's a country that does it for us.
15:22I think that the Ivory Coast can do it.
15:24Because when we look at the part of the American aid, it's about 60 million.
15:31That's it, 60 million.
15:33That's it, 60 million.
15:35That's 10 million.
15:38That's 10 billion.
15:40Billion.
15:42And I think that our state can do it.
15:45I say this because our president was a champion.
15:49During the reconstruction of the World Fund, the agreement gave much more.
15:55As a champion, I think that the government, our president can do it.
16:00I think he can do it.
16:02Whether it's 10 billion, I think we can do it.
16:05We can be autonomous.
16:08That's really capital.
16:10Because what this intervention of the President of the American aid shows us,
16:17is that it's a challenge, but at the same time it allows us to make certain dispositions.
16:24Of course.
16:25Not to be independent.
16:27Independent, of course.
16:28Independent, too dependent.
16:30Today, this is what's happening.
16:32I don't know, but I think we can do it.
16:35This health movement, at 15%, as we said, in Abidjan,
16:39and that we gave $90 per inhabitant,
16:43I don't know if our states can do it. They can do it.
16:47Our states can do it, but we are in an emergency situation.
16:50Emergency, yes. But that's it.
16:53As he said, we can go to a private sector,
16:56look for private public partners, too. Why not?
17:00Of course.
17:01And in terms of resources,
17:04for example, we have resources for efficient management,
17:08and transparent data.
17:12I think that can help us, too, in this situation.
17:17In this crisis situation.
17:19Yes, I think it's a situation that needs to lead to each other,
17:25from our associations to our governments,
17:28to say that we really need to optimize the use of the resources we have.
17:36And at the same time, it's true that the outside world helps us,
17:40but there are a number of dispositions that we have to take internally
17:43to face the case of an emergency.
17:46So, in any case, it's an education for me.
17:49These are elements on which we can really rely
17:53to see and reorganize our financing mechanisms,
17:57our organization, our fund management.
18:01First of all, we have a plan,
18:04because the sponsors always told us that they would withdraw.
18:08But we acted as if we didn't expect it.
18:11And this time, we realized that this could happen.
18:14And so, each country is putting in place a sustainability plan.
18:21So, I think it's time to accelerate things for this sustainability plan.
18:27And we have a tool,
18:30which I always call the tool of national sustainability,
18:34ultra-independence,
18:35it's the National Fund for the Fight against AIDS.
18:38I think this is a structure
18:41for which we have to mobilize all Ivorians
18:46to inject funds into it
18:49so that we can use them to make the fight against AIDS.
18:52So, Mrs. Takalea spoke of this engagement of our heads of state.
18:56And here is a beautiful initiative of the African Medicines Agency.
18:59So, I'm thinking a little bit,
19:01shouldn't we have a little international African solidarity
19:05around these pandemics
19:08which are the subject of subsidies
19:12from the United States and other countries?
19:15Yes, that's right.
19:17You asked the question.
19:19There can be a mutualization of our forces, our energies, our resources.
19:23That's right.
19:25Africans, perhaps by region, can get together.
19:30And it can give good results.
19:33Okay.
19:35Mrs. Takalea, yes.
19:37We need to develop, how can I say, an African solution.
19:42An African solution.
19:44Because we already have a CDA group
19:51so that we can develop an African solution.
19:54And when I say African solution,
19:56I mean like the local production of medicines.
20:00If we get together, all Africans get together
20:04and we will produce medicines.
20:07So, for example, we should support the initiative of the African Medicines Agency, for example.
20:13Because if we produce ourselves, it will cost us less.
20:16Okay.
20:18It will cost us less.
20:20And we will not depend too much on foreign goods.
20:24I think we should think about it.
20:26And it's a good thing that we need to have the body to be able to put it into action.
20:31Okay.
20:32We will end there, Mrs. Takalea.
20:34What will be the challenges to get us out of this situation?
20:38The challenges...
20:40For you, the organization of the CDC, as well as for our African states.
20:45For our African states, first of all,
20:49I say that each country has learned.
20:51There are countries that have taken initiatives.
20:54As soon as President Trump gave his notification,
20:58countries like Côte d'Ivoire had a contingency plan.
21:02But the civil society still wants to be enlightened on this contingency plan.
21:06Because when you look at it, the community aspects are not there.
21:09We know that it is an essential link in the taking of action against HIV.
21:14We know what they did in the past.
21:16It's an opportunity to do it.
21:18So it's important that we try and see a strategy to adopt what needs to be put in this plan
21:23for the opportunity of services.
21:25Okay.
21:26The second thing that I would like to say is that, as I said,
21:30we are looking for funds.
21:32We have said 15% of the budget.
21:34Each African state has accepted.
21:37There are countries that have received 22%.
21:40Like Kenya.
21:41But I always say that our country, Côte d'Ivoire, can surpass Kenya.
21:44Because we have the resources.
21:46Of course.
21:47Our president, as I said, is a champion.
21:49He is a champion.
21:50A champion is a champion.
21:51So we can get to 22%.
21:54Even to 15%.
21:55To exceed 15%.
21:56Which will really help us to no longer depend on steroids.
22:01And there is also this contractualization with community actors.
22:05Yes, they are an essential link in the fight against HIV and the pandemic.
22:11Because they pass.
22:13They give advice to patients.
22:16They put them in confidence.
22:19I am a person who lives with HIV.
22:21I arrive.
22:22He is the one who gives me advice.
22:24He is the one who makes me accept my status.
22:28Okay.
22:29Once I accept my status, of course, I will follow other things.
22:33And he makes me follow.
22:35Because the doctor does something at the hospital, it's true.
22:39And when he finishes, he helps the community.
22:42It is the community that goes to him.
22:44He tells him, you have to take your medication.
22:46You have to learn.
22:47That's all there is to it.
22:49So we have to mutualize these efforts.
22:53Whether with the civil society, the government, the partners,
22:58why not international and all that.
23:00Whether and then find an interpreter.
23:02We started doing it, as he said, with the sustainability.
23:06The roadmap was already underway.
23:08We don't know, maybe it was stopped.
23:11We don't know why.
23:12Okay.
23:13And I also say, as I said, to think locally.
23:18With the Agency for the Production of Medicines,
23:21why not ourselves, Africans, unite.
23:25Unite to think.
23:28Unite so that we can produce our own medication.
23:32This is certainly the place to put a little more energy into these initiatives.
23:36So, on the question, you finish quickly.
23:39We directly benefit.
23:42We pray that this measure is raised for continuity.
23:47So that it gives us time to prepare for the transition.
23:51And take local initiatives to mobilize resources.
23:55And diversify funding sources.
23:59That's it.
24:00And that means that the partners will reach other people,
24:03other horizons, other partners.
24:06But we must always have the idea that we must be autonomous.
24:10That's all.
24:11We will follow this news with great attention.
24:14We hope that this measure...
24:16We rely on you.
24:18We rely on you.
24:19Because you have the power to say what you want.
24:21We are on your side.
24:23We rely on you.
24:25We are on your side to remove the voice so that things work.
24:28Whether internationally or in our African countries.
24:33So that we can have...
24:35I said it.
24:36So that our populations behave well.
24:38And feel good.
24:39Anyway, thank you for being here, Mr. Guy Philbert.
24:42I remind you that you are the president of IRI POPLUS,
24:46which is the Ivorian network of organizations.
24:48Two people living with HIV.
24:51We will wake up very soon.
24:52You too, Mrs. Giselle Estelle Takalea.
24:56You are the vice president of the platform of the EFATIER networks
25:01of the fight against AIDS and other pandemics,
25:03always in Ivory Coast.
25:05Always in Ivory Coast.
25:06Anyway, thank you for being here.
25:07And we will wake up very soon.
25:08We follow the news.
25:09We will see if this measure is not lifted.
25:13So what are you going to do?
25:15Cheers.
25:16That's all for today.
25:17Thank you to the implementation team.
25:18And to you, stay tuned.
25:31IRI POPLUS