 "University students hold red ribbons at a photo opportunity during an HIV/Aids awareness rally in Chengdu, Sichuan province. File image/Reuters")
Over 10 million more people could contract HIV, and nearly 3 million could die by the end of decade due to cuts in foreign aid from Western governments, according to a new research published on Thursday.
According to a Politico report, the study, published in The Lancet HIV, estimates the potential public health consequences of proposed or planned reductions by the five largest donor nations — the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany, and the Netherlands — which collectively provide 90% of global HIV funding.
The most significant effects are expected in sub-Saharan Africa and among at-risk and marginalised groups, such as people who inject drugs, sex workers, men who have sex with men, and children, added the report.
The US has reduced funding from the US Agency for International Development (USAID), affecting HIV treatment and prevention programmes. The President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) also faces potential cuts.
In February, the UK announced plans to reduce its international development spending, while the Netherlands also said it would cut foreign aid by approximately $2.6 billion.
Last year, Germany and France decreased their foreign aid budgets, resulting in an additional cut of around $3.2 billion.
“The current cuts to PEPFAR and USAID-supported programmes have already disrupted access to essential HIV services including for antiretroviral therapy and HIV prevention and testing,” Politico quoted co-lead study author Debra ten Brink of the Burnet Institute in Australia as saying.
“If other donor countries reduce funding, decades of progress to treat and prevent HIV could be unravelled,” she said.
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More ShortsGlobal health leaders have urged the EU and member countries to step up and uphold their support for global health programmes.
With inputs from agencies