A UN agency has warned of a surge in AIDS deaths if US funding is not reinstated. The head of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, says an additional 6.3 million people will die over the next four years without support. This is on top of the 600,000 AIDS-related deaths recorded globally in 2023.
Byanyima noted that a tenfold increase in new infections is expected, with 8.7 million more cases anticipated. The funding freeze announced by the White House has already led to the closure of clinics and layoffs of thousands of health workers.
The crisis is particularly dire in Africa, where the eastern and southern regions account for 53% of global HIV burden. Byanyima warned that closing drop-in centers for girls and young women would be disastrous, as they are responsible for over 60% of new infections on the continent.
UN agencies relying on US funding have also sounded the alarm, citing a liquidity crunch that is jeopardizing lifesaving work, including progress in reducing child mortality. Byanyima urged President Donald Trump to reconsider the funding freeze and restore life-saving services.
The UNAIDS chief pointed to a promising injectable drug for preventing new HIV infections as an opportunity for the US to be part of a “prevention revolution.”
Source: https://news.un.org/en/story/2025/03/1161416