In an unexpected turn of events, the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation (EGPAF), a nonprofit focused on treating HIV in Africa, has found itself at the centre of a controversy sparked by a false claim made by Elon Musk on X. Musk’s tweet, which accused USAID of sending $50 million in condoms to Gaza, led to USAID terminating critical contracts with the foundation. This decision resulted in a shocking cut of $33 million in funds earmarked to provide HIV treatment for 350,000 people across Africa. The fallout from these cuts is devastating, with medicine shortages, unpaid healthcare workers, and disintegrating medical infrastructure now posing a serious threat to patients.
In this post, we’ll delve into the real story behind the controversial claim, its impact on EGPAF’s vital HIV treatment programs, and what needs to happen next to avert a humanitarian crisis.
The Initial Confusion: Elon Musk’s Tweet and the Impact on HIV Treatment
It all started in late January when Elon Musk, using his platform on X (formerly Twitter), made an unsubstantiated claim that USAID had directed $50 million to provide condoms for Gaza. Musk’s tweet, which he shared with his 220 million followers, suggested that the money had likely ended up in the hands of Hamas, the militant group that controls the Gaza Strip. The problem? Musk was wrong. There was no such shipment, and the funds in question had nothing to do with Gaza, a region currently embroiled in conflict.
Instead, the funds were part of a USAID-backed project providing HIV treatment to 350,000 people in Lesotho, Eswatini, and Tanzania—far removed from the conflict zone in the Middle East. Musk’s tweet had caused a ripple effect, with the White House backing the false claim, and ultimately, USAID terminating its contracts with EGPAF, including funding vital HIV care across these African nations.
USAID’s Drastic Cuts: $33 Million in HIV Funding Slashed
When USAID cancelled EGPAF’s contracts in February 2025, the foundation was left scrambling to manage its operations. The termination meant that $32.7 million in funds, originally intended to support HIV treatment for over 350,000 people, was withdrawn.
Without these funds, EGPAF has faced the immediate risk of halting vital services, which include providing HIV treatment for 10,000 children, 10,000 pregnant women, and thousands of other adults in Sub-Saharan Africa. The sudden funding loss has caused severe disruptions:
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Healthcare workers are going unpaid.
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Medicine shortages have started to take effect.
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Patients have started hoarding their medications.
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Critical infrastructure, built over two decades with the help of the US government, has started to crumble.
Trish Karlin, Executive Vice President at EGPAF, expressed her concern, stating that “large numbers of people are going to die” if the funding is not reinstated immediately. The situation is dire, with healthcare facilities already struggling to provide basic services, and patients slipping through the cracks of a failing system.
The Fallout: Impact on HIV Treatment Across Africa
HIV treatment is a time-sensitive issue. If treatment is interrupted for more than 90 days, the virus becomes more easily transmissible, and drug resistance develops. The loss of funding could not have come at a worse time, especially since EGPAF has been integral in the fight against HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.
In addition to providing life-saving medications, EGPAF’s programs include psychosocial support, testing, and counselling services—all of which have now been jeopardized by the funding cuts. Healthcare workers, many of whom were volunteering their time to ensure these services continued, have now been forced to stop working without pay.
The cuts have led to chaos, with drugs arriving in Mozambique and other affected regions but no logistical system in place to distribute them to patients. This is the unfortunate reality of healthcare infrastructure under strain, and it’s only getting worse.
Miscommunication: The Real Gaza and the False Claim
As the funding controversy unfolded, it became clear that EGPAF had been the unwitting target of a misunderstanding. EGPAF operates in Mozambique’s Gaza province, not Gaza, Palestine. The confusion arose when Musk made his tweet and erroneously referred to the Gaza Strip in the Middle East. EGPAF’s work has never involved purchasing condoms for the Gaza Strip or any conflict-related zone in the Middle East.
Musk admitted, after being pressed, that he might have made an error in his claims. However, the damage had already been done. Despite EGPAF’s clarification, USAID’s contracts were terminated, leading to the loss of crucial funding. The government’s failure to correct the record or offer a way to resolve the confusion has compounded the problem, and EGPAF continues to search for a way to restore the critical services it once provided.
The Road Ahead: Restoring Funding and Preventing a Crisis
The immediate issue now is securing the $33 million that has been cut from the HIV treatment programs. EGPAF is in urgent discussions with potential donors like the Gates Foundation to help plug the funding gap, but as Trish Karlin noted, “When a gap this big is left behind, there’s just no way to jump in and immediately fill it.”
The U.S. government, which has historically been a significant funder of PEPFAR (President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief), needs to act swiftly to ensure these vital healthcare programs are restored. The funding is not just about humanitarian aid—it’s about protecting lives, both in Africa and globally. Diseases like HIV do not respect borders, and an outbreak anywhere can quickly become a global health threat.
Why HIV Treatment in Africa Matters: A Global Perspective
The situation in Africa is not just a distant concern; it is a global health issue. The U.S. government’s investment in international health programs has paid dividends in terms of saving lives and preventing the spread of deadly diseases worldwide.
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PEPFAR has saved over 26 million lives and continues to be one of the most successful global health programs ever initiated.
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Breakthroughs in HIV treatments, developed through trials in Africa, have made their way back to the U.S., benefiting people everywhere.
EGPAF’s work helps not only the communities in Sub-Saharan Africa but also provides critical insights into new treatment options and prevention methods that can be used globally. The connection between global health and national security is real—investing in public health around the world helps prevent the spread of diseases that could affect everyone.
Conclusion: Reinstating Support for HIV Treatment Is Critical
The $33 million cut in funding by USAID has placed EGPAF’s HIV treatment programs at significant risk. Without immediate action to restore this funding, many people in Sub-Saharan Africa will face interrupted care, and the hard-won progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS could be undone.
It is imperative that the U.S. government, USAID, and other stakeholders step up to rectify this situation and ensure that HIV treatment programs can continue uninterrupted. As EGPAF‘s Trish Karlin said, “It’s hard for people to understand things that happen in places they’ve never been or with communities they don’t meet, but then there are things that are unifying all of us.” Ensuring access to healthcare for all is a global responsibility.
Relevant Links for Further Reading
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USAID Global Health Programs
Photo credit: Fortune
