On the occasion of World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) has asked governments worldwide to keep expanding their access to new WHO-approved tools and to increase investment to fight AIDS as challenges mount due to severe funding cuts to essential health services.
WHO celebrated World AIDS Day on Monday under the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”
Speaking at the event, Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General, said financial aid cuts have greatly affected the prevention and treatment of AIDS worldwide.
According to the WHO, cuts in aid have caused interruptions in treatment and testing services and have affected key community-based initiatives, including PrEP and harm-reduction programs.
Prevention efforts stagnate
In 2024, HIV prevention efforts stagnated, with 1.3 million new infections.
Globally, an estimated 40.8 million are living with HIV, and 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes.
The United Nations has likewise criticised the funding reductions, warning that the system supporting HIV treatment and prevention across many countries has been “shaken to its core.”
UNAIDS executive director Winnie Byanyima said this resulted in the closing of clinics without warning.
Thousands of health workers had also lost their jobs or salaries and life-saving testing, treatment and prevention services had been disrupted.
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The silver lining amidst challenges
Despite setbacks from funding cuts, the global HIV response has gained significant momentum with the WHO’s approval of the twice-yearly injectable Lenacapavir (LEN) for HIV prevention.
“We face significant challenges, with cuts to international funding, and prevention stalling,” said Dr Adhanom Ghebreyesus.
“At the same time, we have significant opportunities, with exciting new tools with the potential to change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic.”
“Expanding access to those tools for people at risk of HIV everywhere must be the number one priority for all governments and partners.”
With the approval of LEN, WHO seeks to help countries have access to affordable medication by partnering with different organisations such as CIFF, the Gates Foundation, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and Unitaid.
“We are entering a new era of powerful innovations in HIV prevention and treatment,” said Dr Tereza Kasaeva, Director of WHO’s Department for HIV, TB, Hepatitis and STIs.
“By pairing these advances with decisive action, supporting communities, and removing structural barriers, we can ensure that key and vulnerable populations have full access to life-saving services.”
WHO has only one goal in its fight against AIDS: to make treatment and prevention more accessible to people worldwide and ensure that no one will be left behind.
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