UNAIDS warns funding cuts could trigger global HIV resurgence

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) released a report on 27 July 2026 at the AIDS 2026 conference in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, warning that reductions in international financing are endangering progress against HIV. Funding for HIV prevention fell by more than $1.5 billion, dropping 18 % from $8.8 billion in 2024 to $7.3 billion in 2025 – the lowest level in two decades. The agency cautions that continued cuts could lead to a resurgence of the epidemic, with 1.2 million new infections and 570 000 AIDS‑related deaths recorded worldwide in 2025, and a projected rise to over 3 million new infections per year by 2030 if urgent action is not taken.

The report highlights that one‑quarter of people living with HIV who are not receiving antiretroviral therapy are in the Asia‑Pacific region, where 280 000 new infections were reported in 2025. UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima stressed that universal access to treatment “is a political choice,” while Regional Director Eamonn Murphy warned that protecting recent gains in Asia‑Pacific requires sustained investment in prevention, community‑led services and equitable access to innovations. The funding shortfall also threatens heavily dependent African nations, where more than 90 % of HIV programmes rely on international aid.