US Ambassador to highlight health partnership during Empangeni visit
Bozell’s KZN visit comes at a time when South Africa continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest HIV burdens.
The United States will reaffirm its long-standing health partnership with South Africa when U.S. Ambassador Leo Brent Bozell III visits the Men’s Health Mobile Clinic at the Empangeni Taxi Rank in northern KwaZulu-Natal on Thursday.
Organised by the U.S. Consulate General in Durban, the visit is expected to shine a spotlight on collaborative efforts aimed at improving access to healthcare services for men, particularly in the fight against HIV and tuberculosis.
“The visit will highlight the impact of the U.S.-South Africa health partnership in expanding access to HIV, TB, and other essential health services for men,” the U.S. Consulate General’s Office said.
Bozell’s KZN visit comes at a time when South Africa continues to grapple with one of the world’s highest HIV burdens.
Mobile clinics have increasingly become an important tool in reaching men, a group that often accesses healthcare services less frequently than women, resulting in delayed diagnosis and treatment.
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The visit also highlights the broader strategic relationship between South Africa and the United States, which extends well beyond diplomacy into public health, trade, education and investment.
For more than two decades, the U.S. government has invested billions of dollars through health initiatives that have strengthened South Africa’s capacity to combat HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, while supporting healthcare infrastructure and workforce development.
South Africa’s second largest trading partner after China, the United States, has bilateral commerce and investment programmes supporting thousands of jobs.
For decades, the US supported South African health programmes through funding, technical assistance and collaboration with national and provincial health authorities.
While relations between South Africa and the US were still intact, they have been under significant strain in the last two years.
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In his first message to South Africa since his posting in February, Bozell said he will work to strengthen relations between the two countries.
I aim to build a partnership that elevates our shared values, strengthens the ties between our peoples, and turns possibility into progress.
“I look forward to working with South African leaders, innovators, and communities to amplify what is best in both our nations, our resilience, our creativity, and our spirit of opportunity,” he said.
