The number of AIDS deaths worldwide could rise by 3 million due to cuts in foreign aid - study
Kyiv • UNN
Western governments are cutting foreign aid, which could lead to 10 million more HIV infections and nearly 3 million deaths by the end of the decade.
Researchers warn that decades of progress in HIV treatment and prevention may be undone. By the end of the decade, due to cuts in foreign aid by Western governments, the number of people infected with HIV could increase by 10 million, and almost 3 million people could die. This is reported by UNN with reference to Politico.
Details
Five countries (USA, Great Britain, France, Germany and the Netherlands), which provide more than 90% of international funding in the fight against HIV, have announced a reduction in international aid by 8–70% between 2025 and 2026.
Last year, France and Germany cut their foreign aid budgets by 3 million euros. The US government suspended aid on January 20, 2025, including HIV treatment and prevention programs. PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief) is also under threat. In February, Great Britain also announced cuts in international aid spending. The Netherlands cut foreign aid by 2.4 billion euros.
Consequences
"In all low-income countries, cuts in international aid and the cessation of PEPFAR support could lead to an additional 4.43–10.75 million new HIV infections and 0.77–2.93 million HIV-related deaths between 2025 and 2030", the study says.
"If PEPFAR support could be restored, this would reduce the number of new HIV infections to 0.07–1.73 million, and the number of possible HIV-related deaths to 0.005–0.061 million", the experts added.
The greatest impact from the reduction of international aid will be felt by residents of sub-Saharan Africa, who are at increased risk of HIV infection (drug addicts who receive narcotic injections, sex workers, homosexual men and children).
"The current reduction in PEPFAR (President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief - ed.) and USAID (US Agency for International Development - ed.) programs has already led to disruption of access to basic HIV services, including antiretroviral therapy, HIV prevention and testing. If other donor countries reduce funding, "decades of progress in HIV treatment and prevention may be destroyed", said Debra ten Brink, co-author of the study from the Burnet Institute in Australia.
Global health leaders have called on the EU and member states to increase support for global health programs and support them.