WHO Warns of Global HIV Crisis Amid Funding Halt, Calls for Urgent Action
The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarms over the potential global impact of an immediate funding pause for HIV programmes in low- and middle-income countries. With more than 30 million people currently reliant on life-saving HIV therapy, the disruption in funding threatens to reverse decades of progress in combating the virus, putting millions at risk of illness and death.
At the end of 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people worldwide were living with HIV. WHO warns that prolonged funding cuts could lead to a surge in new infections and fatalities, setting back global HIV prevention efforts and potentially dragging the world back to the crisis levels of the 1980s and 1990s when millions died annually due to lack of treatment.
The organization also highlighted the broader consequences of funding shortfalls, including setbacks in medical advancements, diagnostics, and affordable treatment accessibility. WHO has urged the United States Government to introduce exemptions that would allow uninterrupted delivery of HIV treatment and care to affected communities.
PEPFAR's Legacy at Risk
A major concern centers around the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR)—a key U.S. initiative that has been a cornerstone of the global HIV response for over 20 years. PEPFAR operates in more than 50 countries and has saved over 26 million lives through its funding efforts. Currently, it supports treatment for over 20 million people worldwide, including 566,000 children under the age of 15.
Over the past year, PEPFAR, in collaboration with WHO and other global health partners, has been working on sustainability strategies to transition to greater country-led HIV responses by 2030. However, the abrupt funding pause threatens to derail these efforts, leaving millions vulnerable without a managed transition plan.
Call for Immediate Action
WHO has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting PEPFAR, national governments, and global partners in mitigating the fallout from the funding halt. The organization calls for urgent policy interventions to ensure that HIV treatment, prevention, and care services continue without disruption, safeguarding the health and well-being of millions worldwide.