The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS has reported a significant decline in condom distribution in Nigeria, with a 55% drop over the past year. This revelation comes as the agency launches its 2025 World AIDS Day report, Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response. The report highlights the global HIV response as facing its worst setback in decades, with widespread disruption to HIV prevention, testing, and community-led programs.
According to UNAIDS, the number of people newly initiated on treatment has fallen across 13 countries. Furthermore, 450,000 women in sub-Saharan Africa have lost access to “mother mentors,” trusted community workers who link them to care. The agency attributes these disruptions to abrupt funding cuts and a deteriorating human rights environment, which are affecting dozens of countries.
Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, emphasized the severity of the situation, stating that “the funding crisis has exposed the fragility of the progress we fought so hard to achieve.” She highlighted the human impact of these disruptions, citing babies missed for HIV screening, young women cut off from prevention support, and communities suddenly left without services and care.
Before the crisis, adolescent girls and young women were already severely affected, with 570 new HIV infections occurring every day among young women aged 15 to 24. The agency warns that dismantled prevention programs leave young women even more vulnerable, while community-led organizations, the backbone of HIV outreach, are also under pressure. More than 60% of women-led organizations report having to suspend essential services.
UNAIDS modeling suggests that failure to restore prevention efforts could lead to an additional 3.3 million new HIV infections between 2025 and 2030. The agency urges world leaders to reaffirm global solidarity and multilateralism, including commitments made at the recent G20 Leaders’ Summit in South Africa. It also calls for maintaining and increasing HIV funding, especially for countries most dependent on external assistance, and investing in innovation, including affordable long-acting prevention.
The decline in international assistance has been significant, with OECD projections showing that external health funding could fall by 30 to 40% in 2025 compared to 2023. The impact has been immediate and severe, especially in low- and middle-income countries highly affected by HIV. As the global community marks World AIDS Day, the UNAIDS report serves as a reminder of the need for sustained commitment and action to address the HIV epidemic.
