Warning of Resurgent HIV Epidemic Due to Funding Crisis
The international agency addressing AIDS has raised alarms about a potential resurgence of the HIV epidemic, citing a funding crisis and the tightening grip on human rights as significant factors.
Winnie Byanyima, the head of UNAids, remarked that this situation signifies “the biggest disruption” to global efforts against HIV since these initiatives began, posing a serious threat to advancements made so far.
Despite seeing record lows in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, a recent UN report highlights a significant resurgence risk unless there’s renewed action and commitment.
Last year saw 570,000 deaths linked to AIDS and approximately 1.2 million new HIV infections.
However, the report also revealed that testing for HIV sharply declined in 2025, particularly in regions hardest hit by the virus, coinciding with an unprecedented drop in aid funding, around 23%.
In one program, the testing rate fell by 22% compared to the previous year. “That’s huge,” stated Byanyima, emphasizing that this means many individuals remain unaware they are HIV positive, continuing to unknowingly transmit the virus, which could lead to increased infections.
She warned that more individuals might succumb to HIV-related illnesses if they don’t seek treatment promptly.
The report noted that prevention services—like condom distribution and medications aimed at preventing infection—were also hit hard by these funding cuts. Byanyima pointed out that these services were already underfunded, accounting for only 11% of HIV spending in low- and middle-income countries in 2024. “Today, we’re seeing that funding for prevention vanish,” she added.
Domestic funding hasn’t compensated for the losses, often focusing more on treatment than prevention. Byanyima predicted rising numbers of new infections and deaths from HIV-related conditions in the upcoming years.
The report also indicated a growing number of countries instituting new or more restrictive laws against same-sex relationships, which could undermine decades of progress and alienate those most in need of services.
Byanyima highlighted the harm caused by “laws to reduce civic space,” mentioning Uganda’s “sovereignty bill,” which limits external funding for civil society organizations and their operational capabilities.
Community-led organizations, critical in delivering HIV services to at-risk populations, are reportedly vanishing. A survey of 79 such organizations across 47 countries found an 85% reduction in services for men who have sex with men and an 82% cut for sex workers, both groups facing the highest HIV risks.
Despite these challenges, Byanyima noted there are also opportunities, such as innovative prevention methods like a bi-annual injectable drug, lenacapavir. However, she stressed that these would need to be deployed on a much larger scale to make a difference.
UNAids has faced budget cuts due to the Trump administration, and there are suggestions from the UN secretary-general for the agency to potentially “sunset” by year-end.
Byanyima mentioned that a working group would present proposals to the UNAids board in October, but she anticipates a “much smaller” joint program that will still function as a hub within the UN and globally.
