Anabelle Colaco
17 Jun 2025, 23:46 GMT+10
JOHANNESBURG, South Africa: A key global plan to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is now in deeper jeopardy after the United States slashed billions in foreign aid, including support for HIV/AIDS programs.
The warning comes from UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima, who described the funding cuts as a blow to an already lagging global effort.
Speaking in Johannesburg after a meeting with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Byanyima said the world was already "off track" with 1.3 million new HIV infections reported in 2023. The U.S. cuts, she warned, could reverse progress further.
"Less funding means we will get more and more off-track," she told reporters in South Africa, which has the largest population of people living with HIV—over eight million.
The funding cuts stem from U.S. President Donald Trump's February decision to drastically reduce foreign aid allocations, affecting everything from treatment supply chains to testing and prevention services across Africa.
"We don't know yet what that impact will be, but impact there will be," Byanyima said. "Already you see in several countries a drop in the number of people going to clinics."
Before the aid reductions, HIV prevention programs had been helping drive down new infections, albeit too slowly to meet global targets. Now, the closure of community clinics is likely to fuel a rise in infections, she warned.
In South Africa alone, where about 20 percent of the HIV response budget relied on U.S. aid, testing, and patient monitoring are already seeing disruptions. Across the continent, some nations risk running out of life-saving antiretroviral drugs due to interrupted supplies.
Despite these challenges, some lower-income countries are finding ways to fill funding gaps. "Even poor, indebted countries are managing to plug the holes," Byanyima said, urging other wealthy nations to take action.
"We're saying to the donors: this is one of the diseases ... without a cure, without a vaccine, yet we're seeing progress," she added. "If you've got a good success story, why drop it ... before you end it?"
The UNAIDS target to end AIDS as a global threat by 2030 now looks increasingly difficult to achieve without urgent global recommitment. According to Byanyima, continued investment is not only necessary—it's within reach.
Get a daily dose of Belfast Bulletin news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Belfast Bulletin.
More InformationDUBAI, U.A.E.: British Iranians living in the U.K. are taken aback when they try to reach their families in Tehran on the phone and...
LONDON, U.K.: In a landmark moment for Britain, lawmakers in the House of Commons have voted in favour of legalising assisted dying,...
KANANASKIS, Alberta: With key tariff deadlines approaching, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer said this week that finalizing the...
LONDON, U.K.: On June 15, Britain named Blaise Metreweli as the first woman to lead the Secret Intelligence Service, commonly known...
Cromwell [US] June 22 (ANI): Akshay Bhatia was tied-35th after a round of even par 70, which included an eagle in the Travellers Championship....
London [UK], June 20 (ANI): A Chinese student who drugged and raped women in the UK and China was sentenced to life in prison on Thursday,...
WASHINGTON DC, - U.S. President Donald Trump has claimed a ceasefire has been reached between Israel and Iran. He made the claim on...
DUBAI, U.A.E.: British Iranians living in the U.K. are taken aback when they try to reach their families in Tehran on the phone and...
BRASILIA, Brazil: Former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro is accused of playing a key role in an illegal surveillance operation orchestrated...
ANKARA, Turkey: A Turkish far-right politician went on trial Wednesday, facing charges of inciting public hatred—an episode critics...
LONDON, U.K.: In a landmark moment for Britain, lawmakers in the House of Commons have voted in favour of legalising assisted dying,...
Western support for Israel's right to strike Iran backs up a pattern of pre-emptive violence that critics say is further eroding international...