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Hiv And Aids Despite Funding Setbacks Prevention Sees Progress

Leo Migdal
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hiv and aids despite funding setbacks prevention sees progress

On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) calls on governments and partners to rapidly expand access to new WHO-approved tools including lenacapavir (LEN) to drive down infections and counter disruption to essential... Despite dramatic funding setbacks, the global HIV response has gained a remarkable momentum in 2025 with the introduction and WHO approval of twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir for HIV prevention. LEN, a highly effective, long-acting alternative to oral pills and other options, is a transformative intervention for people who face challenges with regular adherence and stigma in accessing health care. WHO released in July this year new guidelines recommending the use of lenacapavir as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention. Sharp and sudden reductions in international funding this year led to disruptions in HIV prevention, treatment and testing services, with essential community-led programmes, including pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and harm reduction initiatives for people who... “We face significant challenges, with cuts to international funding, and prevention stalling," said Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General.

“At the same time, we have significant opportunities, with exciting new tools with the potential to change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic. Expanding access to those tools for people at risk of HIV everywhere must be priority number one for all governments and partners.” Marking World AIDS Day under the theme “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response”, WHO is urging a dual track approach – solidarity and investment in innovations to protect and empower communities most at risk. Mishra urged, “Promise you will take your medicine for life,” in a landmark message for World AIDS Day. “Your medication is your greatest protection,” she added. The global HIV response for over 40 million people is facing its biggest setback in decades, as UNAIDS reported, with budget cuts disrupting prevention and treatment efforts.

This World AIDS Day, the WHO called on governments and partners to expand access to new tools like lenacapavir (LEN) to reduce infections and counter disruptions from foreign aid reductions. “We face significant challenges, with reductions in international funding and a blockage of prevention,” said Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, WHO Director-General. “At the same time, we have significant opportunities, with exciting new tools that could change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic.” Despite funding setbacks, the global HIV response gained momentum in 2025. WHO shortlisted LEN, a highly effective twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, and received national regulatory approvals in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia. WHO is working with partners to enable affordable access to LEN.

“By combining advances with decisive action, supporting communities, and removing barriers, we can ensure key and vulnerable populations have access to life-saving services,” said Tereza Kasaeva, head of WHO’s HIV and diseases department. UNAIDS warned the number of people starting treatment had fallen in 13 countries, with over 60 percent of women-led organizations forced to suspend essential services. Communities are the driving force in the HIV response, providing education, support, and advocacy for treatment access. Ms. Mishra, from the National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI+), emphasized the importance of peer support in overcoming stigma and reaching vulnerable populations with essential services. “We started this movement, but sustaining it long-term is a big question,” she said, stressing the need for strong networks to provide on-the-ground services and peer support.

The 2025 funding crisis has thrown the AIDS response into turmoil with massive disruptions to HIV prevention and community led services, particularly for the most vulnerable. However, the new report by UNAIDS shows evidence that resilience, investment and innovation combined with global solidarity still offer a path to end AIDS. GENEVA, 25 November 2025—The global response to HIV has suffered its most significant setback in decades, warns a new UNAIDS report released today ahead of World AIDS Day 2025. Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response details the far-reaching consequences of international funding reductions and lack of global solidarity which sent shockwaves through low- and middle-income countries heavily affected by HIV. Abrupt reductions in international HIV assistance in 2025 have deepened existing funding shortfalls. The OECD estimates that external health assistance is projected to drop by 30–40% in 2025 compared with 2023, causing immediate and even more severe disruption to health services in low- and middle-income countries.

“The funding crisis has exposed the fragility of the progress we fought so hard to achieve,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Behind every data point in this report are people—babies and children missed for HIV screening or early HIV diagnosis, young women cut off from prevention support, and communities suddenly left without services and care. We cannot abandon them. We must overcome this disruption and transform the AIDS response.” Prevention services—already under strain before the crisis—have been hit hardest. Major reductions in access medicines to prevent HIV (pre-exposure prophylaxis referred to as PrEP) and sharp declines in voluntary medical male circumcision for HIV prevention have left a growing protection gap for millions.

The dismantling of HIV prevention programmes designed with and for young women have deprived adolescent girls and young women of HIV prevention, mental health, and gender-based violence services in many countries. This increases their vulnerability further—already in 2024 there were globally 570 new HIV infections every day among young women and girls aged 15—24. On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization called on governments and partners to rapidly expand access to new WHO-approved tools including lenacapavir to drive down infections and counter disruption to essential health services... Despite dramatic funding setbacks, the global HIV response has gained a remarkable momentum in 2025 with the introduction and WHO approval of twice-yearly injectable lenacapavir (LEN) for HIV prevention, the UN health agency said... LEN, a highly effective long-acting alternative to oral pills and other options, is a transformative intervention for people who face challenges with regular adherence and stigma in accessing health care. WHO released new guidelines in July this year recommending the use of lenacapavir as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option for HIV prevention.

WHO said that sharp and sudden reductions in international funding this year led to disruptions in HIV prevention, treatment and testing services, with essential community-led programs, including PrEP and harm reduction initiatives for people... Marking World AIDS Day under the theme 'Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response', WHO is urging a dual track approach - solidarity and investment in innovations to protect and empower communities most at risk. Global agencies report significant disruptions to HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services in 2025 amid declining funding and rising inequities. WHO’s new 2026–2030 framework outlines cross-cutting strategies to strengthen HIV drug-resistance surveillance and preserve treatment effectiveness. UNAIDS and PAHO emphasize expanded long-acting prevention tools, robust laboratory capacity, and investment in community-led programs to stay on track for 2030 HIV goals. NEW DELHI: The global response to HIV has suffered its most significant setback in decades, warns a new UNAIDS report released ahead of World AIDS Day 2025.

The report ‘Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response’ details the far-reaching consequences of international funding reductions and lack of global solidarity which affected low-and middle-income countries heavily affected by HIV. Abrupt reductions in international HIV assistance in 2025 have deepened existing funding shortfalls, it highlighted. A failure to reach the 2030 global HIV targets of the next Global AIDS Strategy could result in an additional 3.3 million new HIV infections between 2025 and 2030, the report stressed. In January, the US – which accounts for 75 % of all international funding to HIV - halted all its funding to the fight against HIV/AIDS.

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