UNAIDS Welcomes U.S. Decision to Continue Funding HIV Treatment

UNAIDS has praised the U.S. government’s decision to issue an emergency waiver, allowing the continuation of life-saving HIV treatment across 55 countries, following a 90-day funding pause imposed by an Executive Order from President Trump....CONTINUE READING>>>

The pause had temporarily halted all foreign assistance, including funding for the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the world’s largest HIV initiative, which directly supports more than 20 million people living with HIV. This initiative accounts for two-thirds of all global HIV treatments.

The emergency waiver ensures that essential life-saving medicines and medical services, including HIV treatment, will continue. It applies to critical supplies needed to provide this aid.

Winnie Byanyima, UNAIDS Executive Director, welcomed the waiver, stating:
“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the U.S. Government, which ensures that millions of people living with HIV can continue to receive life-saving HIV medication during the assessment of U.S. foreign development assistance. This urgent decision recognises PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”

The funding pause was part of the new administration’s effort to assess programmatic efficiencies and alignment with U.S. foreign policy. UNAIDS has emphasized that it will continue to advocate for the global response to HIV, including ensuring that services for HIV prevention, care, and support for vulnerable populations, such as orphans and children, continue uninterrupted.

The World Health Organization (WHO) had previously expressed deep concerns about the pause’s potential impact on HIV programs in low and middle-income countries. The halt in funding would have jeopardized life-saving therapy for millions, risking a reversal of decades of progress in HIV treatment and prevention.

PEPFAR has been crucial in saving millions of lives globally, having worked in over 50 countries for more than 20 years. The program currently provides treatment to over 20 million people, including 566,000 children under the age of 15.

UNAIDS and WHO will continue to support efforts to ensure a smooth transition towards greater national ownership of HIV programs, minimizing the impact on affected populations.

By the end of 2023, there were 39.9 million people living with HIV worldwide.