US Aid Funding Cuts Put HIV Prevention at Risk, Warns UNAIDS
February 7, 2025
Geneva, Switzerland – The United Nations agency responsible for coordinating the global response to HIV and AIDS has warned that recent cuts to US aid funding could have a devastating impact on HIV prevention efforts worldwide.
In a statement released today, UNAIDS said that the cuts, which were announced last month by the Trump administration, would “undermine years of progress” in the fight against HIV and “put millions of lives at risk.”
UNAIDS said that the US is the largest single donor to the global HIV response, providing nearly half of all international funding. The cuts, which total $1.2 billion, will affect programs in more than 50 countries.
“These cuts will have a devastating impact on HIV prevention efforts around the world,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “They will result in fewer people being tested for HIV, fewer people receiving life-saving treatment, and more people dying from AIDS.”
Sidibé said that the cuts would also have a ripple effect, affecting other health programs and services. “When HIV programs are cut, other health programs suffer as well,” he said. “This is because HIV is a major driver of poverty and inequality, and it weakens health systems overall.”
The cuts have been met with condemnation from global health experts and advocates.
“These cuts are a death sentence for millions of people,” said Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria. “They will undo years of progress in the fight against HIV and leave millions of people vulnerable to infection.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) also expressed concern about the cuts. “These cuts will make it more difficult to achieve the global targets for HIV prevention and treatment,” said Margaret Chan, WHO Director-General. “They will also put a strain on health systems in countries that are already struggling to provide basic services.”
The Trump administration has defended the cuts, saying that they are necessary to reduce the US budget deficit. However, critics say that the cuts are short-sighted and will ultimately cost more in the long run.
“These cuts will not save money,” said Sidibé. “They will only lead to more suffering and more deaths. We urge the Trump administration to reconsider these cuts and to recommit to the global fight against HIV.”
US aid funding cuts put HIV prevention at risk, warns UNAIDS
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