© UNAIDS India Funding cuts are already having a direct impact on HIV prevention programs. The UN Secretary General called for intensified efforts to eliminate the threat of AIDS by 2030 Healthcare
Despite significant progress in recent decades, the world remains far from meeting its commitment to ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030. This is stated in the speech of UN Secretary-General António Guterres, which was presented by his deputy Amina Mohammed at the high-level meeting of the General Assembly on HIV/AIDS.
In the 45 years since the first case of AIDS was reported, humanity has shown “extraordinary determination and solidarity,” overcoming stigma, lack of knowledge, discrimination and political indecision, the UN chief said.
Achievements that changed the course of the epidemic
The Secretary General recalled that deaths from AIDS-related illnesses have fallen by 70 percent since their peak in 2004 and by more than half since 2010.
Over the same period, new HIV infections fell by 40 percent, and more than 32 million people are now receiving life-saving antiretroviral treatment therapy.
“We have seen that national leadership is critical, that real solutions come from communities, and that scientific innovation can find solutions to even the most difficult situations,” said the Secretary General.
AIDS remains a global threat
However, Guterres stressed that the fight is far from over. According to the latest UN report, at the end of 2024, about 9.2 million people in need of HIV treatment did not have access to it. During the year, 1.3 million people became infected and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related causes.
“Let’s be clear: AIDS is not defeated,” the Secretary-General stressed.
He warned that funding cuts were already having a direct impact on prevention programs and community-based work that is key to the fight epidemic.
Five areas to accelerate progress
The UN chief outlined five key areas to help the international community achieve the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
The first is closing remaining gaps in access to prevention, treatment and health care, especially for the most vulnerable and marginalized groups.
The second is supporting organizations and communities that are on the front lines of the fight against the spread of HIV.
The third area is related to the protection of human rights. human rights, but also undermine public health efforts,” Guterres noted.
The Secretary-General paid special attention to growing discrimination against a number of population groups, including representatives of the LGBTQI+ community.
Financing remains the fourth priority. The UN Head called for support for developing countries in strengthening health and social systems protection.
“Now is not the time to reduce investment in the response to HIV,” he stressed.
The fifth area of focus was the need to revive the multilateral cooperation that has underpinned the global response to the epidemic from the very beginning.
“No country or community can end AIDS alone,” he said.
The Future UNAIDS
Separately, the Secretary-General touched upon the future of the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which is facing serious financial difficulties.
As part of the UN-80 initiative, the Organization intends to reorganize the activities of UNAIDS, distributing its functions and expertise among the agencies of the system UN to maintain the progress made in the fight against HIV despite financial constraints.
Guterres said it is not a matter of backing down on commitments, but of maintaining the gains achieved and ensuring support for the people and communities who need it.
“Structures may change, but the United Nations will never abandon its commitment to ending AIDS as a threat to public health,” he stressed.
The Secretary-General called on States to use the current meeting to mobilize political will and recommit to science, human rights, solidarity and shared responsibility.
“The responsibility to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 lies with on each of us,” said the head of the UN.