As the world commemorates World AIDS Day, UNAIDS is pushing world leaders to step up urgently.
The agency is appealing for stronger global cooperation and renewed international support, especially for countries facing the biggest gaps. Domestic financing alone cannot cover the need, making continued global aid essential.
A recent UNAIDS report released in November warns that the global fight against HIV has faced its biggest setback in decades.
UNAIDS is urging more investment in new, accessible HIV prevention and treatment, highlighting the rapid availability of medicines such as lenacapavir to reach 20 million people, and lowering costs by allowing more producers to manufacture at scale.
Currently, 40.8 million people are living with HIV across the world. In 2024 alone, there were 1.3 million new infections, and 9.2 million people still have no access to treatment.
According to UNAIDS, sudden cuts in international HIV assistance in 2025 have worsened already existing funding shortages.
More than 60% of women-led HIV organizations have either shut down or lost funding.Other HIV prevention services have also suffered major setbacks. The number of people using PrEP, HIV prevention medication has dropped by 64% in Burundi, 31% in Uganda and 21% in Viet Nam.
The new report, ‘Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,’ highlights how shrinking international support and lack of global unity have shaken health systems in low- and middle-income countries.
The OECD estimates that external health assistance may fall by 30–40 percent in 2025 compared to 2023, leading to immediate and even deeper disruption to health services.
Failing to achieve the 2030 global HIV targets in the next Global AIDS Strategy could result in 3.3 million additional new infections between 2025 and 2030
