Latest news with #AIDS-relief
Scoop
10-07-2025
- Health
- Scoop
Fight To End AIDS: ‘This Is Not Just A Funding Gap – It's A Ticking Time Bomb'
10 July 2025 The 2025 Global AIDS Update released on Thursday by UNAIDS – the global body's agency fighting AIDS and HIV infection – warns that a historic funding crisis now threatens to unravel decades of hard-won gains unless countries radically rethink how they fund and deliver HIV services. Yet even amid these challenges, many of the most-affected countries are stepping up. Of the 60 low and middle-income nations surveyed in the report, 25 have signaled plans to increase domestic HIV budgets in 2026 – a clear sign of growing national leadership and commitment to the response. Although promising, such efforts are not sufficient to replace the scale of international funding in countries that are heavily reliant on global donors. Global emergency Despite marked progress in the HIV response in 2024, this year has seen many disruptions to HIV prevention programmes and treatment services, due to abrupt funding shortfalls in Washington and other major donor capitals. Even before the large-scale service disruptions, reported data for 2024 showed that 9.2 million people living with HIV still did not have access to life-saving treatments, contributing to 75,000 AIDS-related deaths among children in 2024. 'This is not just a funding gap – it's a ticking time bomb,' said Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, as many AIDS-relief programmes are being defunded, pushing people out of critically needed care. If US-supported HIV treatment and prevention services collapse entirely, UNAIDS estimated that an additional six million new HIV infections, and four million additional AIDS-related deaths could occur between 2025 and 2029. Call for solidarity Despite the grim landscape, 'there is still time to transform this crisis into an opportunity,' said Ms. Byanyima, as countries and communities are stepping up to protect treatment gains. As of December 2024, seven countries in sub-Saharan Africa had achieved the 95-95-95 targets: 95 per cent of people living with HIV know their status, 95 per cent of those are on treatment, and 95 per cent of those on treatment are virally suppressed. While such successes must be maintained and further scaled up, the global HIV response cannot rely on domestic resources alone. ' In a time of crisis, the world must choose transformation over retreat,' said Ms. Byanyima. ' Together, we can still end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 – if we act with urgency, unity and unwavering commitment,' she added.
Yahoo
28-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Bono Is ‘Very Angry' at Donald Trump's Budget Cuts to Foreign-Aid Relief
Bono isn't afraid to speak his mind. In our new cover story, the U2 singer and AIDS-relief advocate tells Esquire that he's 'very angry' with the state of the world today. 'The United States has been a promised land to a lot of people,' he says, 'but it looks like it's about to break that promise.' ONE, a nonprofit organization of his, was instrumental in helping to pass the largest health-care intervention for AIDS relief in U.S. history in 2003. However, America's far-right leadership is a different story today. The second Trump administration's first 100 days saw substantial cuts to global relief efforts. 'The most unbelievable carnage imaginable is happening to our work,' Bono says. 'These are the brightest, best people, who've given their lives trying to serve the poorest, most vulnerable communities, and they've just been thrown in the dumpster.' Historically, the U2 frontman hasn't been afraid to work across the aisle. He controversially worked with George W. Bush to pass the President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief program, even against criticism from the Left. But according to a recent report, the program states that it is responsible for saving over 26 million lives since its creation. 'I describe myself as a radical centrist,' Bono says. 'And I am sure that that sounds absurd, but I am also sure that is how we get through the future. What's being served up on the far left and on the far right is not where we need to be.' AP News reported in February that the Trump Administration's dismantling of U.S. foreign aid eliminated $60 billion in U.S. assistance. 'Widely successful USAID programs credited with containing outbreaks of Ebola and other threats and saving more than 20 million lives in Africa through HIV and AIDS treatment are among those still cut off from agency funds,' the report stated. Meanwhile, ONE is pushing lawmakers to oppose the president's budget request for 2026. Critics warn that the budget bill—currently headed for a vote in the Senate—would provide even greater strain on hospitals and health centers. 'I can understand people coming to a place where they say, 'I don't see why the United States has to pay for aid, drugs, or anything else in places far away where there is no vote,' ' Bono admits, but he believes that such thinking 'makes a lot of geopolitical troubles for you down the road. 'The delight that was taken in the destruction of life-support systems—pulling them out of the wall—that's the clue to the true nature of this,' Bono continues. 'Evil walks amongst us, but it is rarely this obvious.' Still, Bono remains hopeful that America will turn the ship around. 'I believe the old adage that if you give Americans the facts, that they will make the right choice,' he says. 'Problem is getting them the facts, especially right now.' You Might Also Like Kid Cudi Is All Right 16 Best Shoe Organizers For Storing and Displaying Your Kicks
