GENEVA, Switzerland — millions of people living with HIV are facing a growing crisis, as major funding cuts disrupt vital prevention and treatment programs, according to a new report from UNAIDS.
The United Nations agency warned that persistent funding shortfalls are having profound, lasting effects on the health and well-being of communities around the world.
“Persistent funding shortfalls and the perilous risks facing the global HIV response are having profound, lasting effects on millions of people,” UNAIDS said.
Lives Lost Amid Service Disruptions
Community partners reported deaths of people living with HIV after local clinics and treatment centers were forced to close, though exact numbers are still being collected.
The crisis worsened earlier this year when the United States — the largest international HIV donor, responsible for 75% of funding — temporarily halted HIV-related support. While some programs have since resumed under PEPFAR, overall funding continues to decline.
UNAIDS warns that these financial gaps jeopardize the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Numbers Behind the Crisis
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40.8 million people are currently living with HIV.
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1.3 million new infections were reported in 2024.
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AIDS-related deaths have fallen 54% to 630,000 between 2010 and 2024, and new infections also dropped by 54%.
Despite progress, the report found that prevention services have been devastated by domestic funding shortages and cuts in donor contributions.
Prevention Tools Now Out of Reach
Nearly half of women and adolescent girls surveyed reported disruptions to HIV prevention and treatment services in their communities.
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2.5 million people lost access to the HIV-preventive medication PrEP as of October 2025 due to funding cuts.
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In Nigeria, distribution of male condoms fell by 55% between December last year and March this year.
UNAIDS emphasizes that without urgent funding and support, the hard-won gains in the global fight against HIV could unravel, leaving millions more at risk of infection and death.
The world faces a stark choice: restore funding and protect lives, or watch decades of progress slip away.
