JOHANNESBURG, South Africa — A stark warning has emerged from the United Nations Aids Agency (UNAIDS) concerning the perilous state of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The organization highlighted in its annual report that significant funding cuts from major donors, particularly the abrupt withdrawal of U.S. support, jeopardize hard-won victories achieved over the past two decades.
Winnie Byanyima, the executive director of UNAIDS, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating, “If the world doesn’t plug this hole, we estimate that an additional 6 million people will be newly infected in the next four years. We could have 4 million additional AIDS-related deaths.” This crisis comes just five months after the Trump administration ceased much of the funding allocated to the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the largest global contributor to HIV/AIDS initiatives.
The impact of this funding suspension is already being felt in South Africa, which holds the record for the largest HIV-positive population globally. Although the country has made impressive advances in offering lifesaving antiretroviral drugs to most infected individuals, Minister of Health Aaron Motsoaledi described the U.S. cuts as “a wake-up call.” Motsoaledi expressed concern over the dangers of relying heavily on a single donor, stating, “This type of relationship where we depend on one country, and when that country is in some type of negative mood, the whole world collapses — yes, it’s scary.”
The region most affected by HIV/AIDS is sub-Saharan Africa, where UNAIDS reports that treatment efforts have saved approximately 26.9 million lives since the epidemic’s onset. However, recent funding decreases are hindering scientific advancements. South African researchers, who have been pivotal in global HIV research as well as COVID-19 studies, are now facing the suspension of many trials as a result of these funding shortfalls.
Dr. Helen Rees, who heads the Wits Reproductive Health and HIV Institute in Johannesburg, stressed the global implications of this funding loss. She noted, “The research being done for HIV and tuberculosis in South Africa has not only had an impact here, but a huge global impact.” Despite her recognition by the World Health Organization for her remarkable contributions to public health, her institute is grappling with tremendous cuts to U.S. funding.
Meanwhile, President Trump has articulated that the shift away from U.S. aid represents a new framework emphasizing “trade over charity” in Africa. However, Byanyima counters this narrative, asserting that the recent reduction of U.S. support has left UNAIDS with nearly 50% less funding and insufficient time to address the gap. “This is not charity,” she stated resolutely. “This is solving a global problem together. As long as it festers in some parts of the world, it will come back to hit everybody else.”
For Nombeko Mpongo, a longtime HIV activist from Cape Town, the funding cuts struck a deeply personal chord. She recounted feeling overwhelmed by the loss, describing it as if “a volcano came and took everything away. It felt like a death penalty.” Yet, after the initial shock, Mpongo resolved to act. “Let me fight. Let me reach out to the communities,” she said with determination. “We’ve fought this virus before. We’ll do it again, because hope is what is going to carry us through.”
As the fight against HIV/AIDS hangs in the balance, the international community faces a crucial call to action in response to these alarming developments.
image source from：npr
