The Brian Lehrer Show Treating HIV/AIDS Abroad Without US Aid and PEPFAR
Jun 17, 2025
Wafaa El-Sadr, a professor at Columbia University and global health expert, joins Jon Cohen, a senior correspondent at Science, to discuss the implications of dwindling U.S. aid for HIV/AIDS treatment. They dive into how Lesotho and other countries are adapting to diminished support. The conversation highlights the urgent need for community resources and transportation for pregnant women in treatment. They also explore the overall impact of policy changes on global health, stressing the importance of local capacity building amidst shifting U.S. contributions.
AI Snips
Chapters
Transcript
Episode notes
Outreach Halt Impacts HIV Testing
- A pregnant woman in rural Lesotho was HIV positive but outreach for testing other family members stopped due to funding cuts.
- Testing eight children revealed no infections, but lack of transportation halted vital outreach services.
HIV Care Requires a Cascade of Services
- Success in HIV care depends on more than medicine; it involves testing, counseling, clinic access, lab monitoring, and community support.
- This cascade of services is critical to transforming HIV into a manageable chronic condition.
Pregnant Women Miss Critical HIV Tests
- In a Lesotho rural clinic, pregnant women weren’t getting tested for HIV due to staff shortages and funding cuts.
- Without testing and treatment, mothers risk transmitting HIV to their babies, which could be prevented.