Linda-Gail Bekker
Linda-Gail Bekker is the chief operating officer of the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation in South Africa, where she has been a leading voice in the fight against HIV/AIDS. With a career dedicated to improving health outcomes for those living with HIV, she has been instrumental in research and advocacy efforts. Bekker has warned that recent U.S. funding cuts could lead to a catastrophic increase in HIV-related deaths, projecting that as many as 600,000 lives could be lost over the next decade due to the loss of crucial health programs.
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Recent news mentions
Linda-Gail Bekker expresses concern about misconceptions regarding the LEN drug.
Here’s what’s on South Africa’s 2026 public health agenda – The Mail & Guardian
South Africa· 2026-01-14
Linda-Gail Bekker is the head of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation at the University of Cape Town and led the trial that showed LEN fully protects young women against getting HIV through sex.
The six-monthly anti-HIV jab is coming. But can SA keep track of millions of users? – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-10-13
Linda-Gail Bekker will head up the Cape Town study on LEN.
Two drugmakers will sell the 6-monthly anti-HIV jab for the price of the daily prevention pill – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-09-29
Prof Linda-Gail Bekker is the CEO of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation and discusses the limited research on Long COVID in Africa.
Weak data leaves Africa guessing on vaccines, Long COVID-19 impact
Kenya· 2025-09-01
Linda-Gail Bekker is a Zimbabwean scientist who presented data on the efficacy of Lenacapavir at the 25th World AIDS Conference.
Lenacapavir, un tratamiento contra el VIH que Latinoamérica no puede costear: dice experto
Panama· 2025-07-14
Linda-Gail Bekker, an HIV scientist who heads the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation and was a co-chief investigator of the J&J Covid jab in South Africa.
Are we entering denialism 2.0? – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-05-23
Linda-Gail Bekker is the head of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, which has received NIH funding for many years.
The US’s NIH funds R6.65 billion of research in South Africa – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-04-30
Linda-Gail Bekker heads the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation and released groundbreaking results of a study on the anti-HIV shot, lenacapavir.
The six-monthly anti-HIV jab could end Aids in SA by 2032 – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-04-09
Linda-Gail Bekker heads the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation at the University of Cape Town and warns about the impact of funding cuts.
Trump ends SA’s HIV and TB research grants – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-03-24
Prof Linda-Gail Bekker has seen US funding for trials of potential HIV vaccines cancelled.
‘It’s back to drug rationing’: the end of HIV was in sight. Then came the cuts | Global development
United Kingdom· 2025-03-18
Linda-Gail Bekker, who heads the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation, stresses the need for research on the uptake of the jab.
The Global Fund will roll out the twice-yearly anti-HIV jab — with or without Pepfar – The Mail & GuardianSouth Africa· 2025-03-05
Linda-Gail Bekker warned that over 500,000 South Africans could die from AIDS if U.S. funding is cut.
ÁFRICA DO SUL: Meio milhão de pessoas em risco de morte por SIDA
Mozambique· 2025-03-04
Prof Linda-Gail Bekker of the Desmond Tutu Health Foundation in South Africa, said it would mean 'deep trouble' for the region.
‘This will cost lives’: cuts to UK aid budget condemned as ‘betrayal’ by international development groups | Global developmentUnited Kingdom· 2025-03-02
Linda-Gail Bekker warned that more than half a million people could die from AIDS if U.S. funding were cut over ten years.
Recortes de ayuda de Trump a países como Haití provocan protestas de organizaciones
Dominican Republic· 2025-03-01
Prof Linda-Gail Bekker, director of the Desmond Tutu HIV Centre at the University of Cape Town, said: 'It is not hyperbole to say that I predict a huge disaster.'
US shutdown of HIV/Aids funding ‘could lead to 500,000 deaths in South Africa’ | Global developmentUnited Kingdom· 2025-02-28
Linda-Gail Bekker, chief operating officer of a leading South African health group, the Desmond Tutu HIV Foundation, predicted a huge disaster due to the funding cuts.
More than 90 per cent of U.S. aid programs abruptly cancelled, jeopardizing lives, humanitarian groups say
Canada· 2025-02-27