The 1st of December marks World AIDS Day, a global initiative dedicated to raising awareness about the ongoing issues surrounding HIV/AIDS. This year, the World Health Organization (WHO) has joined forces with partners and communities worldwide to reflect on the theme: “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.”
Currently, an estimated 40.8 million people are living with HIV (PLHIV) globally. Despite advancements that have made HIV a chronic, treatable infection, progress is under threat due to significant funding shortfalls. A recent report by UNAIDS highlighted a sharp decline in funding over the past year, leading to severe disruptions in HIV treatment pathways, especially in fragile settings. This funding gap could result in an additional 3.3 million new HIV infections over the next five years.
Funding Shortfalls and Their Impact
The deprioritization of HIV treatment in community-led regions has become a critical issue. Prevention programs have been particularly strained, with some dismantled entirely. The loss of initiatives for young women has heightened their vulnerability, while stigma, discrimination, punitive laws, and the lack of community-based services continue to present major barriers to prevention, testing, and care.
Most HIV programs rely heavily on external funding. Without urgent action, infection rates are expected to rise, and health systems will face greater strain. According to UNAIDS, the global HIV response requires a renewed commitment to funding and innovation.
Strategies for a Sustainable Response
To address these challenges, countries need to increase investment in HIV treatment programs, develop innovative service delivery models, expand prevention and harm reduction initiatives, strengthen community engagement, and improve surveillance and monitoring of HIV responses. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, has implored the public to keep fighting for HIV to remain a priority. She emphasized,
“The funding crisis has exposed the fragility of the progress we fought so hard to achieve.”
Byanyima further stated,
“We know what works – we have the science, tools, and proven strategies… [W]hat we need now is political courage. Investing in communities, in prevention, in innovation, and in protecting human rights as the path to end AIDS.”
The Role of Healthcare Professionals
Nurses and midwives have always been on the frontline of the AIDS response, advocating with affected communities to deliver the change required to tackle the infection. Historian Geraldine Fela, in her book Critical Care: Nurses on the frontline of the AIDS crisis, notes,
“What really struck me was that during the AIDS crisis, nurses and their unions and affected communities fought for and won an approach to infection control and approach to public health in general.”
Fela continues,
“By having that collaborative bottom-up approach, trust was built and often in very marginal communities.”
This advocacy has never wavered, and the professions continue to push for improved care and investment, in line with evidence-based practice.
Looking Forward: A Call to Action
The announcement comes as the global community faces a pivotal moment in the fight against HIV/AIDS. The need for a robust and sustainable response has never been more urgent. As World AIDS Day 2025 serves as a reminder of both the progress made and the challenges ahead, it is a call to action for governments, organizations, and individuals to recommit to ending the AIDS epidemic.
Moving forward, the focus must remain on strengthening healthcare systems, ensuring equitable access to treatment, and fostering an environment where stigma and discrimination are eliminated. Only through collective effort and unwavering commitment can the world hope to overcome the disruptions and transform the AIDS response for future generations.
