The United States government is fully committed to the multi-party effort led by the Government of South Africa to fight HIV and AIDS in South Africa. Through the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the US has made the largest commitment in history by a single nation to combat a disease, providing more than $25 billion (R188 billion) to the fight against global AIDS. In South Africa, PEPFAR support from 2004-2009 has totaled over $2 billion (R15 billion), representing the largest contribution from PEPFAR to any country. In 2010, PEPFAR will add $559 million (R4.2 billion) to the cause in South Africa.

The U.S. Mission in South Africa is currently negotiating a 5-year Partnership Framework with the Government of South Africa that will lay out our cooperation on HIV and AIDS programs via PEPFAR. The Partnership Framework is a standard PEPFAR cooperation document that will identify the strategic role that PEPFAR and other partners will pay in supporting the South African government's priorities.

"Signing the 5-year Partnership Framework is an important step to insure future PEPFAR funding in South Africa. Contrary to what the article says, we have every expectation that funding levels will continue as PEPFAR and the fight against HIV is the cornerstone of the President's Global Health Initiative." stated Ambassador Gips. "The fight against HIV and AIDS in South Africa will take many years of hard work by a diverse group of partners. The U.S. is and will remain one of the most committed and fully invested partners in this battle."

On World AIDS Day 2009, Ambassador Donald H. Gips announced that the United States will provide an additional $120 million (R900 million) over two years for anti-retroviral (ARV) drugs. This one-time extra funding to procure ARVs will help ensure that there are adequate stocks on hand to meet the growing demand for ARVs in South Africa. This funding is over and above the $559 million (R4.2 billion) budgeted for PEPFAR in South Africa (2010 fiscal year).