Funding reductions may reverse years of progress in combating HIV worldwide
US Funding Withdrawal Threatens Global HIV Progress, Says UNAids Chief
US Funding Withdrawal Threatens Global HIV Progress, Says UNAids Chief
UNAids warns cuts could lead to increased infections and deaths
Alex Boyd
Geneva, 24 October 2023 - The head of UNAids has issued a stark warning regarding the consequences of recent cuts to U.S. funding for HIV programs, predicting that the losses could translate into 2,000 new infections and over six million deaths each year globally within the next four years.
Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAids, spoke out against the U.S. administration's decision to halt foreign aid, which has drastically affected HIV services. She emphasized that this reversal would undo the progress made since 2004, which saw annual deaths decline from over two million to approximately 600,000. The cuts have already begun to take a toll, particularly on mothers and children reliant on these programs for HIV treatment and prevention.
The funding freeze initiated by President Donald Trump in January for a 90-day review of spending has since led to a significant downturn in programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This has resulted in the suspension of key HIV treatment initiatives, the closure of clinics in Africa, and severe shortages of anti-retroviral medicines.
Byanyima expressed her alarm at the possibility of reverting to the dark days of the 1990s, when effective HIV medication was scarce in developing countries, prompting soaring rates of infection and death. She acknowledged the ongoing support from the U.S. but urged for a reassessment of the abrupt funding cuts.
There has been little indication from Washington of any plan to revise this decision. Traditional European aid donors are also signaling potential cuts, leaving UNAids unsure about new funding sources to fill the gap created by the U.S. withdrawal.
During her address in Geneva, she highlighted the personal story of Juliana, a Kenyan woman whose work with a U.S.-backed initiative has been jeopardized by funding suspension. The World Health Organization has already warned that countries reliant on U.S. aid are at risk of running out of crucial HIV medications.
In February, the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa cautioned against returning to previous hardships around accessing HIV treatment services, asserting that the situation is critical, especially for many still living with HIV.
In an effort to engage the U.S. government, Byanyima proposed a potential partnership to market a new U.S.-developed anti-retroviral, lenacapavir, which could serve millions and benefit the American economy in terms of jobs and profit.
Moreover, the challenges facing other UN agencies due to funding cuts are further complicating aid efforts worldwide, impacting various sectors from child mortality reduction programs to food security in famine-stricken areas.
Geneva, 24 October 2023 - The head of UNAids has issued a stark warning regarding the consequences of recent cuts to U.S. funding for HIV programs, predicting that the losses could translate into 2,000 new infections and over six million deaths each year globally within the next four years.
Winnie Byanyima, the Executive Director of UNAids, spoke out against the U.S. administration's decision to halt foreign aid, which has drastically affected HIV services. She emphasized that this reversal would undo the progress made since 2004, which saw annual deaths decline from over two million to approximately 600,000. The cuts have already begun to take a toll, particularly on mothers and children reliant on these programs for HIV treatment and prevention.
The funding freeze initiated by President Donald Trump in January for a 90-day review of spending has since led to a significant downturn in programs administered by the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This has resulted in the suspension of key HIV treatment initiatives, the closure of clinics in Africa, and severe shortages of anti-retroviral medicines.
Byanyima expressed her alarm at the possibility of reverting to the dark days of the 1990s, when effective HIV medication was scarce in developing countries, prompting soaring rates of infection and death. She acknowledged the ongoing support from the U.S. but urged for a reassessment of the abrupt funding cuts.
There has been little indication from Washington of any plan to revise this decision. Traditional European aid donors are also signaling potential cuts, leaving UNAids unsure about new funding sources to fill the gap created by the U.S. withdrawal.
During her address in Geneva, she highlighted the personal story of Juliana, a Kenyan woman whose work with a U.S.-backed initiative has been jeopardized by funding suspension. The World Health Organization has already warned that countries reliant on U.S. aid are at risk of running out of crucial HIV medications.
In February, the Treatment Action Campaign in South Africa cautioned against returning to previous hardships around accessing HIV treatment services, asserting that the situation is critical, especially for many still living with HIV.
In an effort to engage the U.S. government, Byanyima proposed a potential partnership to market a new U.S.-developed anti-retroviral, lenacapavir, which could serve millions and benefit the American economy in terms of jobs and profit.
Moreover, the challenges facing other UN agencies due to funding cuts are further complicating aid efforts worldwide, impacting various sectors from child mortality reduction programs to food security in famine-stricken areas.
