Thousands of healthcare programs taking place in South Africa face imminent shutdown after the decision by the United States government to permanently stop funding them.

The administration of US President Donald Trump has now notified healthcare organizations receiving funding from the US that such support would now be cut permanently.

Some of these organizations said they had received letters from the US Agency for International Development (USAID).

"Secretary Rubio and PTDO Deputy Administrator [Peter] Marocco have determined your award is not aligned with Agency priorities and made a determination that continuing this program is not in the national interest," according to one of the letters.

Sibongile Tshabalala, chairperson of the Treatment Action Campaign, which campaigns for access to AIDS treatment, confirmed receipt of the termination letter to local news service Bhekisisa.

To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video

"It is so painful that these terminations mean death to poor people of the world. Key and........

© Deutsche Welle