The Human Cost of PEPFAR’s PrEP Restrictions: A Crisis We Cannot Ignore 

The global fight against HIV is at a dangerous crossroads. After decades of progress, a new U.S. government directive has frozen critical HIV prevention programs, including access to Pre-Exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP). This decision threatens to reverse lifesaving gains made under the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—a program that has provided essential HIV prevention and treatment services to millions. 

How This Decision Harms Communities 

PrEP is a groundbreaking medication that reduces the risk of acquiring HIV by over 99% when taken consistently. Despite its effectiveness, a directive from the Trump Administration has placed a chilling pause on PEPFAR-funded PrEP programs for everyone except pregnant and breastfeeding women. This policy disproportionately impacts communities most vulnerable to HIV, including young women, men who have sex with men (MSM), and transgender individuals, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. 

By denying PrEP access, this directive is effectively allowing the HIV epidemic to worsen in these communities, directly contradicting decades of scientific research and public health policy. 

A Setback for Public Health and Human Rights 

This restriction does more than halt immediate prevention efforts—it undermines future advancements in HIV care. New long-acting PrEP options, such as injectable lenacapavir, are on the horizon, offering more accessible and stigma-free protection. However, the current freeze makes integrating these innovative solutions into public health programs even more difficult. 

Moreover, this directive signals an ideological shift—one that prioritizes conservative politics over public health, exclusion over inclusion, and discrimination over science. By limiting access to HIV prevention tools, the U.S. is failing its global leadership role in the fight against HIV/AIDS. 

How SisterLove is Impacted and Responding 

At SisterLove, Inc., we have dedicated over three decades to HIV prevention, reproductive justice, and empowering communities disproportionately affected by HIV. This policy directly impacts the people we serve, particularly Black women, LGBTQIA+ individuals, and those living in the South, where HIV rates remain alarmingly high. 

SisterLove stands firmly against policies that put lives at risk. We are amplifying advocacy efforts, urging policymakers to reverse this decision and demanding that access to PrEP remains a fundamental right for all at-risk individuals—not just a select few. 

What You Can Do 

We must take action to protect PEPFAR and global HIV prevention efforts: 

✅ Call on Congress to reinstate full funding for PrEP programs. 

✅ Raise awareness about how this policy disproportionately affects marginalized communities. 

✅ Support organizations like SisterLove that are fighting for HIV prevention and reproductive justice. 

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The fight against HIV/AIDS is far from over. We cannot afford to step backward. Join us in demanding science-based, compassionate, and equitable health policies that protect every life. 

🔗 Join SisterLove’s Advocacy Efforts Today 

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