The ambassador of the United States of America to Mozambique, Peter H. Vrooman, has assured that American support for crucial projects in the country will remain intact, despite the challenges faced. However, he warned that some programmes have been suspended, and progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS remains threatened by the high number of new infections.
“You know that some projects are on pause, but we have waivers for some life-saving projects, that is, PEPFAR [President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief] projects, the antiretrovirals and also the logistics for the health sector. We will continue our programmes saving the lives of two million Mozambicans who have HIV,” said Vrooman.
The statement was made after an audience granted by the Mozambican Head of State to the American diplomat, in which the strengthening of bilateral relations was discussed. The ambassador stressed the joint work with the government, the private sector and non-governmental organisations to ensure the continuity of humanitarian programmes, with a focus on combating HIV/AIDS.
Concern about the disease had already been discussed between the President of the Republic and the executive director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Winnie Byanyima, during the African Union Summit. Byanyima acknowledged the country's progress, but warned of persistent challenges: “Mozambique has two million people on treatment, 400,000 still to be brought into treatment and 80,000 new infections every year.”
These figures reveal a worrying picture, which could jeopardise the progress achieved. Official data indicate that 2.4 million Mozambicans live with HIV, reinforcing the need to step up treatment and prevention efforts. Without continued support, the risk of a setback in the fight against the disease rises significantly.
American support, beyond health, extends to humanitarian assistance programmes, whose continuity was likewise guaranteed by Vrooman. However, the maintenance of these efforts will depend on external factors, including US political and budgetary decisions.
The meeting between the Mozambican President and the US ambassador reaffirms the importance of bilateral cooperation and the joint commitment in sectors strategic to the country's development.
