U.S. Funding Withdrawal Sparks Crisis in Global HIV/AIDS Response

U.S. Funding Withdrawal Sparks Crisis in Global HIV/AIDS Response
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Years of American-led investment have brought AIDS-related deaths to their lowest levels in over three decades and provided vital medicines to vulnerable populations worldwide, Africanews.com reported.

However, the sudden withdrawal of U.S. funding in the past six months has caused a “systemic shock,” warns the United Nations. Without replacement funds, more than 4 million additional AIDS-related deaths and 6 million new HIV infections could occur by 2029.

A recent UNAIDS report details that funding losses have already disrupted supply chains, forced health facility closures, left thousands of clinics understaffed, set back prevention programs, hampered HIV testing, and caused many community organizations to reduce or halt their activities. The report also expresses concern that other major donors may scale back support, risking decades of progress amid geopolitical tensions, wars, and climate change.

The $4 billion pledged by the U.S. for the 2025 global HIV response vanished virtually overnight in January after President Donald Trump suspended all foreign aid and moved to close USAID. PEPFAR, launched in 2003 under President George W. Bush, was the largest single-disease commitment ever made, supporting testing for 84.1 million people and treatment for 20.6 million. In Nigeria, PEPFAR funded 99.9% of HIV prevention medicines.

Experts stress that poorer countries cannot fill the funding gap. Additionally, the U.S. funded most HIV surveillance and data collection in Africa, which has now ceased, complicating efforts to track and contain HIV. Without reliable data, experts warn it will be extremely difficult to control the epidemic moving forward.