UNAIDS: U.S.A. funding cuts puts millions of lives at risk

On Monday, UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima highlighted the grave impact of the U.S.A. not fully restoring its foreign aid, warning that an additional 6.3 million people worldwide could die from AIDS-related complications in the next four years, ‘Washington Blade’ reports.

Byanyima remarked during a press conference in Geneva, “[If] the U.S. assistance for HIV is not restored after the pause and is not replaced by other funding, and we have not heard of other governments pledging to fill the gap, there will be an additional, in the next four years, 6.3 million more AIDS-related deaths.”

In January, the Trump-Vance administration put a hold on nearly all U.S.A. foreign aid spending for a minimum of 90 days. Secretary of State Marco Rubio later issued a waiver allowing the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and other critical humanitarian programs to continue operating during this period.

The Washington Blade has previously reported that PEPFAR-funded initiatives in countries like Kenya and others across Africa have been forced to halt services or shut down due to the reduced U.S.A. funding, a fact Byanyima confirmed on Monday.

“The abrupt withdrawal of U.S. funding has resulted in the closure of numerous clinics and the layoffs of thousands of healthcare workers,” she stated. “These include nurses, doctors, lab technicians, pharmacists, and various data entry personnel. It’s extensive.”

Byanyima indicated that this funding cut could lead to approximately 2,000 more HIV infections daily.

She pointed out that these reductions have severely affected HIV prevention and treatment initiatives in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. Byanyima further emphasised the increased vulnerability faced by LGBTQ individuals and other marginalised communities.

“Some services, especially treatment services, have resumed since the PEPFAR waiver, but issues persist, particularly for key populations,” she explained. “These populations rely on special services to combat stigma, discrimination, and criminalization; I refer to LGBTQ individuals, sex workers, people who inject drugs, and young women.”

“Prevention services are struggling to return because, beyond the cuts, there is also a regression in rights. Those who have experienced discrimination and stigma—those criminalized—are hesitant to seek services where they might face such bias,” Byanyima added. “Consequently, centers offering prevention services are not reopening, concerned they might contravene new guidelines.”

In 2003, then-President George W. Bush signed the law establishing PEPFAR. Byanyima noted it has saved 26 million lives. However, Congress did not reauthorise PEPFAR by Wednesday’s deadline.

“The United States has been an outstanding partner for us, UNAIDS, and of course, the Global Fund, working closely with their PEPFAR program,” she said.

The State Department chose not to comment on Byanyima’s statements on Wednesday.