February 15, 2025

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WHO Warns of Global Threat to People Living with HIV Amid Funding Crisis

The World Health Organization (WHO) has voiced deep concern over the immediate pause in funding for HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries. These programs are critical in providing life-saving HIV therapy to over 30 million people worldwide. As of the end of 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally.

A disruption in funding could have devastating consequences, putting millions at heightened risk of illness and death while also threatening to reverse decades of progress in preventing HIV transmission. If prolonged, such a funding halt could lead to a resurgence of new infections and fatalities, potentially setting the world back to the crisis levels of the 1980s and 1990s, when millions succumbed to HIV each year, including many in the United States.

Beyond the immediate health risks, this financial disruption could hinder international efforts that have long relied on scientific advancements, strategic investments, and community-based healthcare delivery. These initiatives have been pivotal in ensuring access to innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines, and effective HIV care models.

WHO is urging the U.S. government to provide additional exemptions that will ensure the continued delivery of life-saving HIV treatment and care. The global response to HIV/AIDS has depended heavily on sustained support, and any interruption risks undermining these hard-won achievements.

The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been a cornerstone of the global HIV response since its inception over 20 years ago. PEPFAR operates in more than 50 countries and has saved over 26 million lives by ensuring access to antiretroviral treatment. Currently, it provides HIV treatment for more than 20 million people worldwide, including 566,000 children under the age of 15.

Over the past year, PEPFAR and partners, including WHO, have collaborated with governments to develop sustainability plans aimed at fostering greater country ownership of HIV programs, reducing reliance on donor support by 2030. However, an abrupt and prolonged funding stop disrupts these carefully planned transitions and endangers millions of lives.

WHO remains committed to working alongside PEPFAR, other global partners, and national governments to mitigate the impact of funding challenges and ensure continuity of HIV treatment and prevention efforts. The global health community must act swiftly to prevent a major public health setback and safeguard the progress achieved over the past decades.

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