HIV prevention and treatment services faltering, warns UNAIDS

The sudden funding decline is hitting the HIV response “like a shock wave,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS , adding that “the world is pulling back just when we need to push forward.”

Many countries are unprepared to sustain programmes previously supported by international funding, Ms. Byanyima told reporters at UN Headquarters in New York, noting that prevention and support services are already collapsing in several countries.

Today, 9.3 million people living with HIV are still waiting to begin treatment, while there were 1.3 million new infections worldwide in 2024.

‘Real consequences’

Ms.…