Millions of lives are at risk as deep cuts to US funding threaten global HIV treatment and prevention programs. UNAIDS warns that unless support is reinstated, an additional 6.3 million people could die over the next four years.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima expressed alarm, predicting a “real surge” in the epidemic similar to the 1990s and early 2000s. “We also expect an additional 8.7 million new infections,” she said, citing 1.3 million new HIV cases recorded in 2023 alone.
The White House’s funding freeze, which began on January 20, is set to end after a 90-day review. However, no other governments have stepped forward to bridge the financial gap, Byanyima told reporters in Geneva.
Immediate Consequences: Clinics Closing, Lives at Risk
The abrupt withdrawal of US support has forced many HIV treatment centers to shut down. Patients no longer have access to life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs. Healthcare workers—including doctors, nurses, lab technicians, and pharmacists—are being laid off as programs collapse.
Byanyima stressed that the situation is particularly dire in Africa. Over 60% of new HIV infections occur among girls and young women there. Drop-in centers providing essential services have shut their doors, worsening an already critical public health crisis.
PEPFAR’s Lifesaving Legacy at Risk
For over two decades, the US-led President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has played a crucial role. It has helped combat the HIV epidemic. Launched in 2003 by President George W. Bush, the program is credited with saving 26 million lives.
In the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), PEPFAR was set to contribute $105 million for the 2025 fiscal year. It aimed to provide treatment to 209,000 people. This number represents nearly half of the country’s HIV-positive population. Without funding, the crisis in the DRC will worsen, as new infections outpace deaths linked to the disease.
Susan Kasedde, UNAIDS head in the DRC, confirmed that 440,000 people currently receive HIV treatment in the country. “Thanks to this treatment, they are alive,” she emphasized.
The Global Impact of US Cuts
Beyond HIV programs, the funding shortfall is crippling other humanitarian efforts. UN agencies heavily reliant on US contributions report severe setbacks:
- UNHCR: Thousands in the war-torn eastern DRC are without essential aid.
- IOM: Migrants and displaced communities face worsening conditions.
- UNICEF: Child mortality reduction efforts are in jeopardy, despite a 60% global decline since 1990.
UNAIDS’ Byanyima acknowledged that the US has the right to scale down its contributions over time. However, she stressed that the sudden withdrawal of vital funding is devastating, particularly in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. “We urge for a reconsideration and an urgent restoration of life-saving services,” she stated.
A Presidential Appeal for Action
In a direct appeal to President Donald Trump, Byanyima urged him to continue the legacy of HIV prevention and treatment. She pointed to a promising twice-yearly injectable drug that could revolutionize HIV prevention.
With 40 million people worldwide living with HIV, urgent action is needed. UNAIDS data from 2023 revealed 1.3 million new infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths—numbers that could surge if funding is not restored.
The world cannot afford to lose the progress made in the fight against HIV. As the crisis deepens, international cooperation is essential to prevent millions of unnecessary deaths.
