The United Nations has issued a stark warning that over six million additional people could die from AIDS in the next four years following drastic funding cuts by the United States.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described the decision as devastating, cautioning that it risks undoing decades of progress in the global fight against the disease.
The US, historically the largest donor to the global HIV/AIDS response, has significantly reduced its financial support, leaving a funding gap that has yet to be filled by other nations.
Byanyima emphasized that unless urgent action is taken to restore or replace the lost funds, AIDS-related deaths could surge to levels unseen since the 1990s.
In 2023 alone, around 600,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide. Without adequate funding, an estimated 6.3 million more lives could be lost, while an additional 8.7 million new infections are projected.
The crisis is expected to hit low-income African nations the hardest, but UNAIDS warns of a rising impact in Eastern Europe and Latin America as well.
The decision to cut funding has sparked international concern and protests. UNAIDS has urged the US government to reconsider, arguing that while a gradual reduction in support may be reasonable, an abrupt withdrawal of life-saving aid puts millions at risk.
Global health experts now fear a resurgence of the AIDS pandemic, undermining decades of progress in prevention and treatment.
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