WHO says US HIV funding cut threatens lives of millions in low-income nations
WHO has called on the United States government to grant additional exemptions to maintain the uninterrupted supply of HIV treatment and care.
The World Health Organisation (WHO) has raised the alarm over the decision by United States President Donald Trump to stop funding for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries, a move that threatens the lives of millions worldwide.
The global health body says the funding pause affects initiatives that provide life-saving HIV treatment to over 30 million people worldwide, putting vulnerable populations at increased risk and jeopardising decades of progress in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
More To Read
- Childhood in Shadows: Growing up with HIV and a world that doesn't understand
- Mother-to-child HIV transmission rates in Kenya drop, but challenges remain
- Delays in seeking treatment lead to higher HIV deaths among Kenyan men - report
- 90 children graduate from HIV exposed infants program in Taita Taveta
"These programmes provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide," WHO stated.
The WHO warns that an interruption in funding could lead to dire consequences, including increased illness and death among people living with HIV. It could also undermine progress in preventing new infections, potentially reversing decades of advancements in global HIV response efforts.
A prolonged funding gap could also disrupt global efforts to develop and sustain innovative HIV care models, including affordable treatments, advanced diagnostics, and community-based healthcare delivery.
"If prolonged, it could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America," says the health body.
Grant additional exemptions
The WHO has called on the United States government to grant additional exemptions to maintain the uninterrupted supply of HIV treatment and care.
The United States President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been a cornerstone of the international HIV response since its launch over 20 years ago. It operates in more than 50 countries.
WHO added that over the past two decades, PEPFAR has saved more than 26 million lives. However, the current funding pause has put the lives of millions at risk.
In recent years, PEPFAR, in collaboration with the WHO and other partners, has been working on sustainability plans aimed at increasing country ownership and reducing donor dependence by 2030.
However, an abrupt funding halt threatens these efforts and does not allow for a structured transition, putting millions of lives at risk.
"We are calling on the United States government to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care," WHO said.
The WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting PEPFAR, partner organisations and national governments in managing this funding crisis. It says it is working to mitigate the impact on those living with HIV, ensuring that progress made over the past two decades is not lost.
The sudden pause in funding, which affects PEPFAR, could disrupt life-saving antiretroviral therapy for over 20 million people, including thousands of children.
WHO officials caution that the decision risks reversing decades of progress in the fight against HIV, potentially leading to a surge in new infections and deaths, especially in low- and middle-income countries.
Top Stories Today
