By Anjali Sharma
UNITED NATIONS – World health agency on Monday stated that the global HIV response for the over 40 million people living with the disease is facing its most serious setback in decades.
UNAIDS said it is fighting to end the epidemic by 2030 with funding cuts disrupting prevention and treatment.
WHO called on governments and partners to expand access to new WHO-approved tools including lenacapavir to drive down infections and counter disruptions caused by cuts to foreign aid.
Head of the WHO Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said “We face significant challenges, with cuts to international funding, and prevention stalling,”
“At the same time, we have significant opportunities, with exciting new tools with the potential to change the trajectory of the HIV epidemic.”
According to the QWHO, despite dramatic funding setbacks, the global HIV response has gained momentum in 2025.
The organization prequalified LEN, a highly effective twice-yearly injectable for HIV prevention, in October this year. This was followed by national regulatory approvals to increase access in South Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia.
WHO is working closely with partners to enable affordable access to LEN in countries.
Tereza Kasaeva, head of the organization’s department for HIV and other diseases said “By pairing these advances with decisive action, supporting communities, and removing structural barriers, we can ensure that key and vulnerable populations have full access to life-saving services”.
UNAIDS warned that the number of people beginning treatment has fallen across 13 countries, while over 60 per cent of women-led organizations say they had been forced to suspend essential services.
UN agency highlighted that communities are the driving force of the HIV response, bringing education and support to those living with AIDS and collaborating with health workers and policy makers to advocate for access to treatment.
“The pain, fear, and mental pressure that we ourselves have felt – through that experience – we know how big a role peer support plays in anyone’s life,” Ms. Mishra told the UN about the importance of community.
Ms. Mishra works for, the National Coalition of People Living with HIV in India (NCPI+), combat stigma and reach vulnerable populations to help with access to HIV treatment and prevention, among other services.
“We have started this movement, but how to keep it going for a long time – that is a very big question. Because until the network is strong, we will not be able to provide services on the ground, neither reach youth nor provide peer support,” she added.
