By Fanuel Chinowaita
The World Health Organization (WHO) issued a stark warning last week about the potential global health crisis facing people living with HIV, following an immediate pause in funding for critical HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries.
These programs, which provide life-saving antiretroviral therapy to over 30 million people worldwide, are now at risk of disruption, threatening to reverse decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS.
As of the end of 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people globally were living with HIV. The funding halt, particularly affecting initiatives like the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), could lead to increased illness and death among those dependent on treatment. It also risks undermining efforts to prevent new HIV transmissions, potentially causing a surge in infections and fatalities.
The WHO emphasized that prolonged funding interruptions could set the global HIV response back to the 1980s and 1990s, when millions died annually from HIV-related illnesses, including significant numbers in the United States.
Such a setback would not only devastate communities but also erode advancements in public health programming, including innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines, and community-based care models.
PEPFAR, established over 20 years ago, has been a cornerstone of the global HIV response, saving more than 26 million lives and currently providing treatment to over 20 million people, including 566,000 children under 15. Operating in more than 50 countries, PEPFAR has been instrumental in reducing HIV-related deaths and infections worldwide.
However, the current funding pause jeopardizes the predictable supply of antiretroviral therapy, putting millions at immediate risk. Over the past year, PEPFAR, alongside partners like the WHO, has been working on sustainability plans to transition to greater country ownership and reduced donor dependency by 2030. A sudden halt to funding disrupts these plans, leaving countries unprepared to manage the transition and endangering the lives of those reliant on these programs.
The WHO has called on the United States government to implement additional exemptions to ensure the continued delivery of life-saving HIV treatment and care. The organization has also pledged to support PEPFAR, national governments, and other partners in managing the transition process effectively to minimize the impact on people living with HIV.
“The global community cannot afford to lose the progress we have made in the fight against HIV,” said a WHO spokesperson. “We urge immediate action to prevent a catastrophic reversal of decades of hard-won gains.”
The funding pause underscores the fragility of global health initiatives and the urgent need for sustained investment in HIV programs. Without swift intervention, the world risks a resurgence of HIV-related deaths and infections, undoing years of progress and leaving millions vulnerable to a preventable and treatable disease.