Funding Cuts Threaten HIV/AIDS Care and Increase Infection Rates

In Mozambique, a teenage rape victim arrived at a health clinic, only to find it closed due to funding cuts affecting HIV/AIDS services. In Zimbabwe, AIDS-related deaths have increased for the first time in five years.

Countries like Ethiopia and the Democratic Republic of the Congo have seen patients with suspected HIV go undiagnosed due to depleted test-kit stocks. Reports indicate that cuts in aid from the US, UK, and other European nations are severely impacting the fight against HIV, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, with funding projected to drop by 30 to 40 percent in 2025 compared to 2023.

Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, stated that the ecosystem sustaining HIV services in low- and middle-income countries has been shaken to its core. UNAIDS predicts that without intervention, there will be 3.3 million more new HIV infections than expected by 2030.

Services aimed at preventing HIV infections, which have largely relied on donor funding, are among the hardest hit. In Burundi, the number of individuals receiving preventive HIV medicines has plummeted by 64 percent.

A series of reports from Frontline AIDS covering countries such as Angola, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Nigeria, Tanzania, Uganda, and Zimbabwe highlight that many of the recent gains in combating HIV are now reversing.

Key populations, including men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, sex workers, transgender individuals, and prison inmates, are particularly vulnerable. Community-led organizations catering to these populations have also been significantly affected, with clinics closing and services becoming scarce.

An LGBTQ+ community member in Uganda expressed feelings of isolation and exposure due to the loss of safe spaces. Teenage girls and young women, who are disproportionately affected by HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, are facing additional challenges as programs designed for them have been cut.

Activists in Kenya report that individuals from key populations are concealing their identities to access care in public clinics, risking a loss of crucial information on the virus's spread. John Plastow, executive director at Frontline AIDS, indicated that progress is slipping backward but noted potential for a reset in health policies.

Some countries are beginning to collaborate on sustainable, homegrown HIV responses. UNAIDS recognizes countries like Nigeria, Uganda, Côte d'Ivoire, South Africa, and Tanzania for pledging to increase domestic investment in HIV prevention.

Innovations such as long-acting injectable drugs to prevent infection are also gaining traction. Winnie Byanyima emphasized the need for political courage, urging investment in communities, prevention, innovation, and protecting human rights as essential steps toward ending AIDS.