Declining Funding Threatens Global HIV Progress, Study Warns

INIndia|

A recent study published in The Lancet HIV predicts a potentially catastrophic increase in HIV infections and deaths due to diminishing international funding. Researchers at the Burnet Institute in Melbourne, Australia, warn that cuts in financial support could lead to 18 million new infections and 2.9 million AIDS-related deaths globally by 2030. This surge could reverse decades of progress made in combating the disease.

According to the study, a 24% reduction in global HIV funding is anticipated by 2026, driven by cuts from major donor nations, including the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands. These countries provide over 90% of international HIV aid, and their reduction in support—ranging from 8% to 70%—could severely impact prevention and treatment efforts.

Dr. Debra Ten Brink from the Burnet Institute emphasized that the US withdrawal of support, particularly following the 2016 presidential election, has disrupted critical services including antiretroviral therapy and HIV testing. The study highlights that marginalized populations, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, will bear the brunt of these funding cuts, exacerbating existing disparities in HIV infection rates.

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