“We will see a… real wave in this disease – [we] will see it coming back and We see people die as we saw them in the 90s and in the 2000s“Said Winnie Byanyima, Unaids Director, pointing to a” ten times increase “from the 600,000 AIDS-related deaths recorded globally by 2023.
“We also expect another 8.7 million new infections. At the last number there were 1.3 million new infections globally (i) 2023”.
When he spoke in Geneva, MS Byanyima noted that the financing freezing announced by the White House on January 20 should be terminated next month, after a 90-day review.
“We haven’t heard of other governments promising to fill the gap”She told journalists.
Already, drop-in centers where HIV patients can pick up the antiretroviral drugs they need are not reopened, “for fear that this may not be in line with the new guidelines,” she maintained.
“This sudden withdrawal of American funding has led (to) shut down by many clinics, dismissing thousands of health workers, these are nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, pharmacy workers … It’s a lot.”
Focus on Africa
Focus on Africa – where east and south of the continent shares 53 percent of global HIV burden – warned Ms.Anyima about it To close “Sudden Drop-in Centers for Girls and Young Women Will Be DisastrousBecause more than 60 percent of new infections – among young people – new infections on the continent are among girls and young women ”.
Talking to UN news Earlier this month, the leader of the Unaids Office of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Susan Kasedde, said there were still major questions about the scope and extent of cuts that should have been made into American PepFar initiative programs that began in 2003 to prevent and contain HIV infections -the presidency’s emergency plan that has saved an estimated 26 million lives.
There are currently about 520,000 people living with HIV in DRC, including 300,000 women and 50,000 children. The epidemic continues to grow as the number of new infections is almost twice the number of deaths associated with the disease.
Pepfar’s expected contribution for the 2025 fiscal year should be $ 105 million, aiming to give the treatment of half the population living with HIV in DRC – approx. 209,000 people.
“This means we currently have 440,000 people living with HIV that is on treatment. THanks for this treatment they live“, Said Mrs. Kasedde.
“And then treatment cannot work without operational capacity, Treatment cannot be delivered if there is no proper functioning supply chain“, She stressed, pointing out that the answer to HIV in the DRC to a large extent involves interdependent programs that strengthen each other.
Global impact on cuts
Several other UN agencies that are highly dependent on US funding have also warned that the cut in support – in addition to chronic sub -investment in humanitarian work globally – already has a serious impact on the communities they earn.
On Friday, the UN Refugee Agency, UNHCR, said thousands have been left without life -saving help in the war -hired Eastern Democratic Republic Congo.
The UN International Organization for Migration (IOM) also announced that funding cuts have serious consequences for vulnerable migrant society, worsening of humanitarian crises and undermining important support systems for displaced populations.
Along with IOM, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned last Friday that the liquidity crisis has jeopardized life -saving work, including progress in reducing child mortality, which has fallen by 60 percent since 1990.
“It is fair that the United States wants to reduce its funding – over time. But the sudden withdrawal of life -saving support has a devastating influence across countries, especially Africa, but even in Asia and Latin America,” said Unaids’ MS Afanyima.
“We call for a reconsideration and an urgent restoration of services-of life-saving services.”
President Appeal
And In a direct appeal to President Donald TrumpThe UNAIDS chief noted that, just as President George W Bush had introduced the pioneering pepar initiative, the new White House established could also be part of the “Prevention Revolution” involving injectable HIV injections required only twice a year to provide protection.
“The deal is that an American company is capable of producing and licensing generics across the regions to produce millions and roll this injectable out to those who really need it“She insisted.
According to UNAIDS, about 40 million people live globally with HIV, based on 2023 data. Of this number, approx. 1.3 million recently infected with HIV that year, and 630,000 people died of AIDS-related diseases.
