Without USAID funding, more than 6 million people could die from AIDS in 4 years: UN
6.3 million people could die in the next four years if the US does not restore funding for the HIV/AIDS program. About this stated Director of UNAIDS (United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) Winnie Byanyima.
According to her, the world expects a real surge in HIV infections, and UNAIDS predicts 8.7 million new cases of infection. Byanyima noted that although funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) is scheduled to resume in April after a 90-day review, many HIV care centers may not reopen due to fears that they will not meet the new requirements of the US government.
“This sudden cessation of US funding has led to the closure of many clinics, the dismissal of thousands of medical workers. These are nurses, doctors, laboratory technicians, pharmacy workers, it’s a lot”, – explained the director of UNAIDS.
She emphasized that the desire of the US to reduce funding is understandable, but this process should be gradual.
“The sudden end of rescue aid has a devastating effect on countries, especially in Africa, and even in Asia and Latin America,” Byanyima emphasized.
According to her, the UN has not heard about the plans of the governments of other countries to compensate for the lack of funding. According to UNAIDS, in 2023, about 40 million people in the world were living with HIV. Of these, 1.3 million became infected in 2023, and 630,000 died from AIDS-related diseases.
It will be recalled that on March 18, the World Health Organization warned that due to a reduction in USAID funding, Ukraine and seven other countries may be left without anti-HIV drugs. These are Haiti, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria and Ukraine.
