WHO warns of severe impact from funding pause for HIV programmes
Due to US action
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a grave warning regarding the immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries, which provide critical access to life-saving antiretroviral therapy for more than 30 million people globally.
The move threatens to undermine decades of progress in the fight against HIV, potentially reversing gains made in public health.
As of the end of 2023, 39.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV, with millions relying on consistent treatment to manage their condition and reduce the risk of transmission. A sudden halt in funding could expose those living with HIV to increased risks of illness and death.
The WHO stressed that prolonged interruptions in HIV care could lead to a resurgence in new infections and deaths, sending global efforts backwards to the bleak days of the 1980s and 1990s, when millions of lives were lost annually to the virus, including many in the United States.
The funding cut also threatens to undermine global health partnerships and investments crucial in advancing scientific research and innovation. These include developments in affordable medicines, diagnostic tools, and community-based care delivery models that significantly improve access to treatment in resource-limited settings.
In response to the crisis, WHO has called on the United States government to reconsider its position and approve additional exemptions to ensure the continuity of HIV treatment and care. The United States, through its President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has been a key player in the global HIV response for over two decades.
PEPFAR, which operates in over 50 countries, has provided life-saving antiretroviral treatment to millions of people. To date, it has saved more than 26 million lives and currently supports over 20 million individuals living with HIV, including 566,000 children under the age of 15.
However, the recent funding suspension could devastate these efforts, as many of the programme’s beneficiaries rely on the regular supply of antiretroviral drugs.
The funding pause threatens to disrupt the careful transition plans implementedover the past year,.PEPFAR and its partners, including WHO, are working on long-term sustainability strategies to reduce dependency on donor support by 2030. A sudden and prolonged cessation of funding leaves no room for this managed transition and could lead to a catastrophic setback for millions of vulnerable individuals.
WHO has committed to supporting PEPFAR, other global partners, and national governments in managing this difficult situation. The organisation aims to minimise the disruption to HIV services and ensure that those living with HIV continue to receive the necessary care and treatment they need to survive.
As the global health community faces this challenging moment, the WHO urges urgent action to prevent a rollback of progress and safeguard the lives of millions of people living with HIV around the world. The consequences of a prolonged funding pause could be dire, potentially taking the world back to an era when HIV claimed millions of lives annually.
Image: WHO has committed to supporting PEPFAR, other global partners, and national governments in managing a difficult situation. Credit: Miguel Á. Padriñán
Last Updated on 2 hours by Dan Ngiam
