Rio AIDS Conference warns of funding cuts that threaten global HIV response

International AIDS Conference UNAIDS HIV funding cuts Brazil United States

The 26th International AIDS Conference took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, from 26 – 31 July 2026. UNAIDS used the opening session to warn that international funding for HIV programmes fell 18 % in 2025 to US$7.3 billion, the lowest level in almost two decades. The United States, which had supplied roughly 75 % of all external HIV assistance, cut its contributions after President Donald Trump ordered a temporary suspension of all U.S. HIV‑related funding in January 2025; the freeze was lifted a few days later but most prevention programmes remained underfunded.

UNAIDS warned that the funding gap could trigger a resurgence of the epidemic, projecting more than three million new infections by 2030 if financing is not restored. The agency reported about 1.2 million new HIV infections and 570 000 AIDS‑related deaths in 2025 – the lowest numbers in three decades – but noted rising infections in 21 countries, including Brazil. In Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia the number of people receiving pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) fell by more than 50 % in the same year. New long‑acting injectable medicines such as lenacapavir show near‑100 % efficacy, but high prices and limited generic production risk leaving many people without access.

The report called for renewed political commitment and sustained financing to keep the gains of the past decades and to meet the UN target of ending AIDS as a public‑health threat by 2030.

Entities

Angeli Achrekar · Brazil · Donald Trump · International AIDS Conference · UNAIDS · UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima · United Nations · United States · Winnie Byanyima

Claims

What the coverage asserts, and how many sources carry each claim.

[● 4 SOURCES] In Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia the number of people receiving pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) fell by more than 50 % in 2025. srnnews.com · wxerfm.com · www.vol.at · www.zeit.de
[● 3 SOURCES] The goal to end AIDS as a public‑health threat by 2030 is off‑track. www.vol.at · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com
[● 7 SOURCES] Global funding for HIV fell by 18% to $7.3 billion in 2025. www.vol.at · focoinformativo.site · www.kff.org · www.zeit.de · srnnews.com · +2 more
[● 3 SOURCES] Approximately 1.2 million people were newly infected with HIV in 2025. www.vol.at · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com
[● 3 SOURCES] President Donald Trump ordered a temporary halt to all HIV‑related US funding in January 2025. www.vol.at · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Total global HIV resources declined by 6% in 2025. srnnews.com · wxerfm.com · www.vol.at
[● 4 SOURCES] The United States provided about 75% of international HIV funding before 2025 cuts. www.vol.at · focoinformativo.site · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com
[● 3 SOURCES] Around 570,000 people died of AIDS‑related illnesses in 2025. www.vol.at · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com
[● 2 SOURCES] The number of people receiving pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) fell by more than 50% in Cameroon, Nigeria and Zambia in 2025. www.vol.at · srnnews.com
[● 4 SOURCES] Donald Trump ordered a temporary halt to all U.S. HIV‑related funding in January 2025, which was later partially restored. www.telesurenglish.net · www.vol.at · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com
[● 8 SOURCES] Approximately 1.2 million people were newly infected with HIV worldwide in 2025. www.telesurenglish.net · www.vol.at · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com · focoinformativo.site · +3 more
[● 5 SOURCES] International funding for HIV programs fell 18% in 2025, to $7.3 billion, the lowest level in almost two decades. www.telesurenglish.net · www.vol.at · focoinformativo.site · srnnews.com · wxerfm.com