A Church in Crisis

In Zambia, Pastor Billy stands before a nearly empty church where attendance has plummeted from 300 to just over 150. 'People are sick at home,' he laments on a quiet Sunday morning.

The Grim Reality of Aid Cuts

The drastic reduction of U.S.-funded clinics has left thousands without access to crucial HIV medications. Despite assurances that life-saving aid would continue, the reality tells a different story as clinics close their doors, leaving patients in turmoil.

The Impact of Policy Decisions

Policy shifts under the Trump Administration have been catastrophic for Zambia's HIV treatment programs. Despite receiving $240 million in 2024 for crucial support, many programs have shuttered due to sudden funding cuts, leaving a vulnerable population without vital resources.

Statistics with Dire Implications

Research predicts a grim future without U.S. support, with the possibility of 500,000 additional child deaths from AIDS in sub-Saharan Africa. Zambians now share their sobering experiences amidst these alarming forecasts.

Voices from the Frontlines: Real Stories of Loss and Concern

**Dorcas and Theresa Mwanza:** A mother and child duo who have seen their lives upended with their clinic’s closure. Theresa’s daughter Dorcas, once cheerful, now bears the weight of uncertainty, having run out of her life-sustaining HIV medications.

**Mary Mayongana:** Confined by illness, Mary grapples with the painful physical repercussions after losing access to her medications, making her unsure of her future as her body continues to weaken.

**Kabamda Willies and Alice Nyandwa:** This couple, once receiving HIV treatments at home, now faces a grueling trek for medications twice as often due to the rationing policies leaving them anxious and uncertain.

**Oswell Sindaza:** An overwhelmed doctor whose small clinic now operates under immense pressure, treating a flood of new patients while unable to provide comprehensive care.

**Brian Chiluba:** Once a robust painter, Brian now feels his strength wilting away. The shutdown of his local clinic has left him panicking about losing his life and leaving his children behind.

**Geoffrey Chanda:** A community health worker who once facilitated essential medicine for truck drivers now finds himself stripped of resources, fearing the rising number of sick clients under his care.

**Daliso and Mary Tembo:** As a couple navigating the uncertainties of HIV and the potential crises following medication shortages, they lie awake at night consumed by worry for their family’s future.

**Catherine Mwaloe:** A teenager wrestling with her HIV-positive status, who struggles to fathom how she will continue receiving her vital medications amidst crumbling support systems.

Pastor Billy's Despair Returns

Pastor Billy, once buoyed by a decline in AIDS despair due to U.S. aid, now feels the return of that haunting hopelessness. As parishioners fall ill and die, he fears for the community he has supported for years.

A Nation's Cry for Help

With the sudden collapse of life-saving programs, Zambians face unprecedented challenges as they navigate a future fraught with uncertainty and suffering. The stories shared are not just personal tales of hardship but a cry for help amidst a worsening crisis.