HIV Infection Could Increase if US Support is Canceled and Not Replaced, Says UNAIDS Boss
The head of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Michel Sidibé, has warned that the global response to the HIV/AIDS epidemic could be severely impacted if the United States ceases to provide support and fails to replace it with alternative funding.
The US has been a major donor to the global fight against HIV/AIDS, providing billions of dollars in aid each year to support programs aimed at preventing, treating, and responding to the disease. However, there are concerns that the country’s current administration may reduce or eliminate this support, which could have devastating consequences for the global response to HIV/AIDS.
According to UNAIDS, there were 770,000 new HIV infections worldwide in 2020, and the disease remains a leading cause of death globally, with 690,000 AIDS-related deaths reported last year. The organization estimates that more than 38 million people worldwide are living with HIV, with the majority of new infections occurring in sub-Saharan Africa.
Sidibé cautioned that a halt in US support for HIV/AIDS programs, without a corresponding increase in funding from other sources, could lead to a significant increase in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. "We are at a critical juncture in the global response to HIV," he said. "If the US reduces or eliminates its support without alternative funding being put in place, we risk a significant setback in our efforts to achieve a world without AIDS."
The US has been a critical partner in the global response to HIV/AIDS, providing over $10 billion in aid to combat the disease between 2002 and 2019. The country’s Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria has been a key vehicle for this support, and the US has been the largest funder of the organization.
In addition to the human toll of HIV/AIDS, the economic burden of the disease is significant, with estimates suggesting that it costs the global economy over $15 billion annually. The loss of US support could have far-reaching consequences, not just for those living with HIV/AIDS, but also for the health systems and economies of affected countries.
Sidibé emphasized that alternative funding sources are needed to ensure the continued delivery of essential services, including antiretroviral therapy, prevention programs, and care and support services for people living with HIV. "We need a commitment to continue to fund and support the global response to HIV, not just from the United States, but from other countries and sources as well," he said.
The UNAIDS chief urged governments, civil society, and the private sector to come together to find new and innovative ways to support the global response to HIV/AIDS. "We must work together to ensure that the progress we have made in the fight against HIV is not undone, and that we can continue to make progress towards our goal of ending AIDS by 2030," he said.
In the face of an uncertain future for US support, the UNAIDS chief emphasized that it is crucial to maintain the momentum and commitment to the global response to HIV/AIDS. "We must not let the current uncertainty dampen our spirits or undermine our determination to end AIDS. We must continue to work together to overcome the challenges ahead and ensure that no one is left behind."
