UNAIDS warns of a looming HIV/AIDS crisis, stating that over six million people could die if the US ends funding for treatment programs. The agency highlights service disruptions and job losses, urging global intervention. Without renewed funding, AIDS-related deaths could increase by 400% between 2025 and 2029.
The United Nations AIDS agency (UNAIDS) has warned that over six million people could die from HIV/AIDS within the next four years if the US government ends its global funding for treatment programs.
Christine Stegling, Deputy Executive Director of UNAIDS, raised concerns during a press briefing in Geneva, stating that despite a waiver on HIV/AIDS programs in last month’s US foreign aid freeze, there is widespread confusion at the community level regarding its implementation.
The crisis stems from a broader funding freeze imposed by President Donald Trump upon taking office on January 20, placing hundreds of millions of dollars in foreign aid on hold for 90 days. Though the US State Department later issued a waiver for the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the leading global initiative in HIV treatment, uncertainty remains about future financial commitments.
Stegling emphasized that without renewed funding, AIDS-related deaths could surge by 400% between 2025 and 2029, potentially leading to 6.3 million fatalities. She also highlighted the devastating impact on Ethiopia, where 5,000 public health workers funded by US assistance have already lost their jobs.
Community clinics, heavily reliant on American funding, face severe service disruptions, which may deter people from seeking treatment, increasing the risk of new HIV infections.
Stegling urged UN member states to step in and prevent a global health disaster, warning that every funding cut, no matter how small, could have catastrophic consequences.
