South African AIDS Activist Pushes for H.I.V. Treatment Access After U.S.-Aid Cuts

Zackie Achmat, a prominent South African AIDS activist, has re-emerged from retirement in response to the reduction of U.S. funding for HIV/AIDS treatment and the inaction of the South African government. Achmat was previously instrumental in the country's push for access to lifesaving antiretroviral drugs. The article highlights the resurgence of concerns over HIV/AIDS treatment access in South Africa, as the U.S. government has reduced its financial support for these efforts. Achmat, who had previously retreated from activism, is now actively advocating for increased access to treatment, particularly in the face of his own government's perceived lack of urgency on the issue. The article underscores the critical role that international funding and domestic government engagement play in ensuring the availability of essential HIV/AIDS treatments for those in need. Achmat's renewed involvement underscores the ongoing challenges and the continued need for sustained action to address the HIV/AIDS epidemic in South Africa.