New York: Despite significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the disease continues to claim one life every minute globally, according to a stark warning from the United Nations. The grim revelation comes even as AIDS-related deaths have fallen to their lowest level since 2004.
Addressing the UN General Assembly on Thursday during a review of global efforts to end AIDS, UN Deputy Secretary-General Amina Mohammed said the progress made so far is under serious threat due to dwindling financial support, disrupted health services, and weakening global commitment.
“Global commitment is fading. Funding is falling. And HIV services are being severely disrupted,” Mohammed said, citing a “series of threats” that could unravel decades of hard-won gains in combating the epidemic.
While more than 30 million people worldwide are currently on lifesaving antiretroviral treatment — hailed as a clear demonstration of multilateral cooperation — Mohammed warned that continued success is far from guaranteed without urgent intervention.
Funding Cuts Threaten Fragile Gains
The UN highlighted a growing crisis as major funding sources, including PEPFAR — the U.S.-led President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief, which has been instrumental in Africa — face the risk of severe cutbacks. UNAIDS estimates that without sustained financial support, the world could see an additional four million AIDS-related deaths and over six million new infections by 2029.
“We cannot let short-term cuts destroy long-term progress,” Mohammed said, calling for an immediate international response to the funding crunch.
She underscored the disproportionate impact on vulnerable populations, especially adolescent girls and young women, as clinics shut down and medicine supplies shrink. With many sub-Saharan African countries spending more on debt servicing than healthcare, she urged global financial reform and debt relief to free up resources for critical health services.
Call to Protect Human Rights and Community Organizations
Mohammed also emphasized the importance of safeguarding human rights in the fight against AIDS. She condemned discriminatory laws, vigilante attacks, and hate speech targeting marginalized communities — all of which fuel stigma and drive people away from treatment.
“Protecting health means protecting human rights,” she said, stressing the need to defend and support community-led organizations that are now facing defunding and dismantling, despite their essential role in reaching at-risk populations.
2030 Goal Still Within Reach – But Not Guaranteed
While the global community has set a target to eliminate AIDS by 2030, the UN cautioned that the goal is slipping out of reach without immediate and renewed global action.
“The end of AIDS is not a mystery,” Mohammed said. “But success is not guaranteed. We must act — together, and with urgency.”
