Funding Cuts Threaten Global HIV Fight, Experts Warn

At the 26th International AIDS Conference in Rio de Janeiro, AIDS experts warned that the fight against HIV is in jeopardy due to a significant 20% reduction in funding last year. Beatriz Grinsztejn, president of the International AIDS Society, stated that donor funding has never fallen so drastically, impacting the most vulnerable populations.

Winnie Byanyima, chief of UNAIDS, emphasized that while scientific advancements have made HIV manageable, political will is lacking. She noted that international financing for HIV in developing countries declined by 18% in 2025, with European funding dropping by 58% since 2011.

Despite the U.S. providing 74% of donor government funding, the cuts from the Trump administration have raised concerns. Developing countries in sub-Saharan Africa are increasing domestic funding, which now accounts for nearly 60% of the HIV response, but this is still inadequate.

The UN aims to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, with a goal for 20 million people to access anti-retroviral drugs.