By Aggrey Baba
The battle against HIV, a disease that has claimed millions of lives, is at risk of suffering a devastating setback due to US foreign aid cuts, UNAids Executive Director Winnie Byanyima has warned.
Speaking to BBC, recently, Byanyima warned that If the funding is not restored, the world could see an additional 2,000 new HIV infections every day and over six million more deaths in the next four years.
The warning comes as the US government, under President Donald Trump, paused all foreign aid spending for at least 90 days, leading to the termination of most USAID-funded HIV treatment and prevention programs.
The impact is already being felt across Africa and other developing regions, where mother and baby clinics have closed, and life-saving antiretroviral (ARV) drugs are in dangerously short supply.
For nearly two decades, US-funded programs have been the backbone of global HIV prevention and treatment efforts. Thanks to this support, the number of HIV-related deaths dropped from over two million in 2004 to 600,000 in 2023. But now, Byanyima warns, the world is staring at a grim reversal.
“I fear we are returning to the 1990s, when HIV medication was scarce, infections were out of control, and deaths were skyrocketing,” Byanyima said. She emphasized that women and girls are being hit hardest, as they rely heavily on these programs for prevention, treatment, and maternal healthcare.
Despite pleas from global health experts, there is no indication that Washington is reconsidering its decision. Worse still, traditional aid donors in Europe are also planning funding reductions, and no other major donor has stepped forward to fill the gap.
While Byanyima acknowledged the US has been the most generous donor in the fight against HIV, she stressed that the sudden withdrawal of support is catastrophic.
“It is reasonable for the US to want to reduce its funding over time,” she said, “but pulling the plug overnight is costing lives.”
If these cuts remain in place, millions who depend on free HIV treatment could be left stranded, leading to a surge in deaths and infections.
As the crisis deepens, UNAids and other global health organizations are scrambling to find alternative funding sources.
However, without urgent intervention, decades of progress could be erased, leaving the world to battle an HIV crisis of unprecedented proportions. (For comments on this story, get back to us on 0705579994 [WhatsApp line], 0779411734 & 041 4674611 or email us at mulengeranews@gmail.com).
