UN fears HIV infections will soar after US cuts funding
Daily new HIV infections around the world could almost double without the aid provided by the United States, the UN programme for combatting HIV and AIDS (UNAIDS), said in Geneva on Monday.
Executive director Winnie Byanyima expressed understanding for the desire of the United States to cut back its funding for aid projects around the world, but an abrupt withdrawal by the US would have devastating consequences, she said. No other donors had thus far indicated that they would cover the loss.
Many African governments were working to boost contributions to health care, she noted, but that can't happen immediately.
Byanyima put the UNAIDS budget for 2024 at $220 million, more than half of which had been funded by the US.
Thousands of HIV-infected people were no longer receiving medication as a result of the US cutback, and without reliable care, the virus could spread rapidly again, she said.
Over the next four years, 8.7 million new infections and 6.3 million additional deaths could occur without US funds, according to UNAIDS projections.
Byanyima said that US President Donald Trump could conclude a good deal by allowing the US company Gilead to distribute its medication to at-risk individuals, thereby making a large profit.
UNAIDS put the number of new HIV infections in 2023 at 1.3 million around the world, and the number of deaths from AIDS complications at 600,000. Byanyima called on the US administration to resume funding as soon as possible.
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