US funding cuts threaten decades of AIDS progress, UN warns
US Aid Cuts Threaten Decades‑Long AIDS Progress
In 2024, about 31.6 million people were on antiretroviral therapy. UNAIDS reported that AIDS‑related deaths had halved since 2010, falling to 630,000 that year. Yet the temporary halt to US foreign aid could reverse these victories.
Why the Funding Gap Is a “Time Bomb”
- Trump’s February cut of international aid has left global humanitarian programs scrambling.
- Former PEPFAR funding would drop more than six million new infections and an extra 4.2 million AIDS deaths over the next four years.
- Such a decline could push the pandemic back to early‑2000s levels.
Impact on Women‑Led HIV Groups
Over 60 % of women‑led HIV organisations surveyed by UNAIDS lost funding or had to suspend services. In Nigeria, pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) distribution fell by over 85 % in early 2025.
Research is on the Back Burner
South Africa, once a leader in HIV research, has paused many prevention and treatment studies. The country’s high HIV prevalence underscores the urgency.
Calls for National Ownership
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima urges a shift to domestically financed responses. She recommends debt relief and reform of international financial institutions to free fiscal space for developing countries.
Resilience from Grassroots Activism
- Historically daily AIDS deaths have evolved into a chronic illness context.
- Investment continues to save lives and remains worthwhile.
UNAIDS warns that the sudden withdrawal of life‑saving aid could turn a story of global health progress into a “massive disruption.” The organization urges the world to maintain support for those at the front lines of the battle against HIV/AIDS.
