Stoppage of US funds likely to lead to more than 4mn AIDS deaths, says UN

PERMANENT discontinuation of US funds threatens to reverse gains achieved in HIV/AIDS treatment and prevention as it could lead to over four million additional AIDS-related deaths and around six million additional new HIV infections by 2029, a latest UNAIDS report says.

- KAVITA BAJELI-DATT @ New Delhi

The report, however, highlighted the remarkable efforts of communities and governments that have been key in bringing down the numbers of new HIV infections by 40% and AIDS-related deaths by 56% since 2010 — before the sudden stoppage of the US funding six months back triggered a crisis in global AIDS response.

"This is not just a funding gap — it's a ticking time bomb," said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. "We have seen services vanish overnight. Health workers have been sent home. And people — especially children and key populations — are being pushed out of care."