“We will see a … real arises in this disease – [we] You will see it return and We see people dying as we saw them in the 90s and in the 2000s“Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS, said, pointing out a” ten times “of the 600,000 deaths related to AIDS recorded worldwide in 2023.
“We also expect an additional of 8.7 million new infections. In the last count, there were 1.3 million new infections worldwide (in) 2023”.
Speaking in Geneva, Mrs. Byanyima said that the freezing of funds announced by the White House on January 20 should end next month, after a 90 -day review.
“We have not heard of other governments committed to filling the void“He told reporters.
Already, the delivery centers where patients with HIV can collect the antiretroviral medications they need are not reopening, “for fear that this will not be consistent with the new guidelines,” he said.
“This sudden withdrawal of the US funds has led (a) to close many clinics, dismissing thousands of health workers, these are nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, pharmacy workers … It is a lot.”
Focus on Africa
Focusing on Africa, where the east and south of the continent share 53 percent of the World HIV load, Mrs. Byanyima warned that Close “Suddenly, starting centers for girls and young women will be disastrousBecause more than 60 percent of the new infections, among young people, new infections in the continent are among young girls and women. ”
Talking with UN news Earlier this month, the head of the Onusida office in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (RDC), Susan Kasedde, said there were still important questions about the scope and scope of the cuts that will be made to the Pepfar initiatives programs of the USA. UU., Which began in 2003 to prevent and contain HIV infections of the presidency that has saved 26 million estimated lives.
There are currently around 520,000 people living with HIV in the RDC, including 300,000 women and 50,000 children. The epidemic continues to grow, since the number of new infections is almost double the number of deaths related to the disease.
The expected contribution of Pepfar for fiscal year 2025 was due to $ 105 million, and its objective is to provide the treatment of half of the population living with HIV in the RDC, some 209,000 people.
“This means that we currently have 440,000 people who live with HIV that are under treatment.Hanks to this treatment are alive“Mrs. Kasedde said.
“And then the treatment cannot work without operational capacity, The treatment cannot be provided if there is no adequate functions chain“He stressed, noting that the response to HIV in the RDC implies large interdependent programs that reinforce each other.
Global impact of cuts
Several other UN agencies that depend largely on US funds have also warned that cutting in support, in addition to the chronic investment in humanitarian work worldwide, is already having a serious impact on the communities they serve.
On Friday, the UN Agency for Refugees, UNHCR, said that thousands have run out of life in the democratic republic of the east of the Congo War.
The UN International Migration Organization also announced that funds cuts have severe repercussions for vulnerable migrant communities, exacerbating humanitarian crises and undermine the essential support systems for displaced populations.
Together with the IOM, the UN Children’s Fund (UNICEF) warned last Friday that the liquidity crunch has endangered the work that saves lives, including progress in the reduction of infant mortality, which has fallen by 60 percent since 1990.
“It is reasonable that the United States wants to reduce its financing, over time. But the sudden withdrawal of life support is to have a devastating impact on all countries, particularly Africa, but even in Asia and Latin America,” Mrs. Byanima de Unidas said.
“We urge a reconsideration and urgent restoration of services, of the services that save lives.”
Presidential Appeal
AND In a direct appeal to President Donald TrumpOnusida’s boss said just when President George W Bush had introduced the innovative Pepfar initiative, the new White House headline could also be part of the “prevention revolution”, which implies injectable HIV injections that are required only twice a year to provide protection.
“The agreement is that an American company can produce and license generic in all regions to produce millions and implement this injectable for those who really need it.“She insisted.
According to Unusida, approximately 40 million people around the world live with HIV, based on data from 2023. Of this number, some 1.3 million were recently infected with HIV in the same year and 630,000 people died from AIDS -related diseases.
