On Thursday (February 6), the United States approved an "Emergency Humanitarian Exception" authorizing the immediate resumption of mother-to-child HIV treatment and prevention services.

The measure, according to a note from the US State Department, has the support of the US President's Emergency Plan for HIV/AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) - the largest global initiative to respond to the disease.

Under this measure, PEPFAR implementing agencies are instructed to take the necessary steps to expedite the resumption of these services as soon as possible, allowing people in 55 countries around the world, including Mozambique, to continue to have access to US-funded HIV treatment.

It is known that shortly after the inauguration of President Donald Trump, the US announced an immediate 90-day suspension of funding for all foreign assistance, including financial support and services offered by PEPFAR, USAID and other agencies.

The executive order announcing the suspension of foreign development assistance for 90 days to evaluate programmatic efficiency and alignment with US foreign policy was one of the first foreign policy decisions of the new administration.

The approval of the "Emergency Humanitarian Exception" represents a retreat by the US administration in the face of global pressure for the United States to continue funding the global response to HIV in order to achieve the common goal of ending the pandemic.

This exemption approves the continuation or resumption of essential humanitarian assistance, which applies to essential medicines and medical services, including HIV treatment, as well as support and care for orphans and vulnerable children.