Note: Single-source report; awaiting corroboration.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has raised concerns over the sharp decline in funding for HIV prevention and treatment, describing the impact as a "shock wave" to global efforts at UN Headquarters in New York. She noted that many countries are unprepared to maintain programs previously supported by international donors, resulting in the collapse of services in several regions.
Currently, 9.3 million people living with HIV remain untreated, and there were 1.3 million new infections worldwide in 2024. The funding reduction has stalled treatment expansion, and community organizations essential to the HIV response have scaled back or shut down entirely.
Country data illustrate the decline: in Uganda, PrEP (pre-exposure prophylaxis) uptake decreased by 31% between December 2024 and September 2025, while Burundi saw a 64% decline over the same period. Nigeria experienced a 55% drop in condom distribution between December 2024 and March 2025.
Charities and HIV-focused groups face greater strain due to funding cuts, causing further scaling down or closures. In eight countries where UNAIDS operates, 99.9% of HIV prevention services depend on external funding, making programs extremely vulnerable to aid reductions. According to Ms. Byanyima, "The fiscal constraints of the most heavily burdened countries are huge." Additionally, about 570 girls and young women were infected with HIV daily in 2024, and 60% of women-led HIV organizations have either lost funding or shut down.
Ms. Byanyima also pointed to geopolitical factors, stating that proxy conflicts over resources have instrumentalized the rights of marginalized groups. In Kenya, most drop-in centers serving key populations, including LGBTQ communities, have closed; Nigeria has lost at least five such clinics; Uganda reports 45% of programs for key populations partially or fully closed; and Zimbabwe’s services for sex workers have fully collapsed in 2025.
Despite these challenges, Ms. Byanyima emphasized that scientific progress presents opportunities to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, urging renewed commitment to leverage these advances.