A new survey has revealed that 80% of HIV service organizations in the Caribbean face severe disruptions, threatening decades of progress in the region.

The disruptions are due to the funding pause issued by the United States government in Januaryy.

The Donald Trump administration, in announcing the USA’s leave from the World Health Organisation (WHO) earlier this year, also froze new funds for the President’s emergency plan for AIDS relief, PEPFAR and other aid programmes.

This caused an immediate stop to HIV treatment, testing and prevention services in 50 countries.

Jamaica is among the Caribbean countries supported by PEPFAR.

Health minister Dr. Christopher Tufton told Irie F M News in February that there is no plan to halt programmes funded by PEPFAR.

He said resources allocated under the programme have not been depleted and as a result, the initiatives continue.

In a statement today, the joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS and the Pan Caribbean Partnership Against HIV and AIDS said many Caribbean countries are affected by the discontinuation of PEPFAR and other aid programmes.

The organisations said a jointly conducted rapid assessment, among some of the main organizations, between March 27 and April 22, reveals there have been widespread disruptions to essential HIV services.

The organisations said HIV prevention and testing services critical for maintaining the region’s progress toward ending AIDS have faced universal disruption.

They said capacity building for organizations was the most severely impacted with 80% of them reporting suspensions or significant reductions in services.

The organizations added that social protection services have seen 75% disruption, while human rights programming, a cornerstone of the Caribbean HIV response, has been affected in 67% of cases.

The survey also found that only 25% of organizations can sustain services for two to six months without alternative funding, while 64% are uncertain about their ability to continue operations.

Already, organisations reported increased health risks, reduced access to care, and heightened mental health challenges, including depression and isolation, among some of the region’s most vulnerable citizens.

The organisations are calling for immediate action to address the funding crisis and ensure the continuity of life-saving HIV services across the Caribbean.

They will host a regional dissemination meeting tomorrow, with leading regional experts and government and civil society representatives, in a dialogue on building sustainable HIV responses in times of funding uncertainty.