The World Health Organisation (WHO) has expressed concern about the implications of the United States funding pause for HIV programmes in low and middle-income countries.
This follows President Donald Trump’s withdrawal of the U.S. from the global health body and stoppage of disbursement of funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a programme for HIV treatment in Africa and developing countries.
WHO, in a statement shared on its X official handle on Tuesday, said these programmes provide access to life-saving HIV therapy to more than 30 million people worldwide. It added that globally, 39.9 million people were living with HIV at the end of 2023.
THE WHISTLER reported that Trump, on his first day in office, signed an executive order directing the withdrawal of the United States from WHO. Trump criticised the organisation, stating that the US was paying far more than China.
WHO has, however, urged the U.S to reconsider the decision citing the crucial role the US has played in protecting global health and security.
The Global Health Organisation warned that a funding halt for HIV programmes can put people living with HIV at immediate increased risk of illness and death and undermine efforts to prevent transmission in communities and countries.
It added that such measures, if prolonged, could lead to rises in new infections and deaths, reversing decades of progress and potentially taking the world back to the 1980s and 1990s when millions died of HIV every year globally, including many in the United States of America.
WHO further stated that for the global community, the funding pause could result in significant setbacks to progress in partnerships and investments in scientific advances that have been the cornerstone of good public health programming, including innovative diagnostics, affordable medicines, and community delivery models of HIV care.
It noted that through the PEPFAR, WHO and other partners have saved more than 26 million lives of people with HIV over the past two decades. It lamented that the current pause on funding will directly affect millions of lives
“PEPFAR works in over 50 countries around the world. Over the past two decades, PEPFAR funding has saved more than 26 million lives. Currently, PEPFAR is providing HIV treatment for more than 20 million people living with HIV globally, including 566,000 children under 15 years of age.
“Over the past year, PEPFAR and partners, including WHO, have been working on sustainability plans with countries for greater country ownership and reduced donor support up to and beyond 2030. A sudden and prolonged stop to programmes does not allow for a managed transition and puts the lives of millions at risk.
“The United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) has been a flagship initiative of the global HIV response since its establishment over 20 years ago. The current funding pause for PEPFAR will have a direct impact on millions of lives that depend on the predictable supply of safe and effective antiretroviral treatment.”
The global health organisation however urged the United States Government to enable additional exemptions to ensure the delivery of lifesaving HIV treatment and care. It also assured of its commitment to supporting PEPFAR and other partners, as well as national governments, in managing change processes effectively to minimize the impact on people living with HIV.
