By Bashir Hassan Abubakar
The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that recent disruptions and unprecedented cuts in international aid are severely threatening global progress toward achieving an AIDS-free generation.
The alert was issued in a statement by the UNFPA Executive Director, Ms. Diene Keita, and read on her behalf by Deborah Tabara, Gender/Reproductive Health Analyst and State Programme Officer of UNFPA at a press briefing organised by the Bauchi State Agency for the Control of HIV/AIDS, Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Malaria (BACATMA) to commemorate the 2025 World AIDS Day on Monday 1st December, 2025.
According to the UNFPA ED, advancements in HIV prevention—driven by medical innovations, progressive public health policies, and expanded reproductive health rights—are now at risk of reversal if urgent action is not taken.
Ms. Keita noted that groundbreaking HIV prevention medications have broadened options for individuals, enabling them to choose methods best suited to their needs. She also highlighted that more countries are increasingly integrating HIV prevention into their national healthcare systems, strengthening the fight against the virus.
However, she cautioned that massive funding cuts have destabilized prevention programmes, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, the region which accounted for half of all new HIV infections last year.
“Nearly 2.5 million people have already been deprived of life-saving pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) medications due to these cuts,” the statement revealed.
The Executive Director warned that if the current trend continues unchecked, an estimated 3.3 million additional people could acquire HIV by 2030, with adolescent girls and young women facing the highest risks.
She expressed deep concern that girls and women aged 15 to 24 represent a quarter of all new HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa, linking the trend to entrenched gender inequality, gender-based violence, stigma in healthcare systems, and limited access to reproductive health services.
“These factors not only heighten vulnerability to HIV but also undermine the rights, health, and future of women and girls,” she said.
UNFPA emphasized that sustaining progress now depends heavily on strong national leadership and increased financing from both domestic and international partners. Strengthening efforts to eliminate gender inequality, violence and stigma, the agency said, remains central to preventing new infections.
The statement further called for the integration of HIV services into routine sexual and reproductive healthcare—including maternal health and family planning—to expand access for women and girls.
Reaffirming its commitment, UNFPA said it will continue supporting countries to scale up HIV prevention services, particularly for adolescent girls, young women, and key populations, while also backing treatment and related care services.
Ms. Keita applauded the achievements already made through the collective efforts of governments, international organizations, civil society, and communities, noting that nearly 27 million lives have been saved through global HIV response efforts.
She concluded with a call for renewed global solidarity:
“Now, we need to come together and finish what we know works and what we know is possible—an AIDS-free future for all.”
Our correspondent reports that the event was supported by UNFPA and other partners working with BACATMA.