SWITZERLAND – UNAIDS has expressed its approval of a waiver issued by the US government, ensuring that millions of people living with HIV will continue to receive life-saving HIV medications during the review of US foreign development assistance.
UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, praised the decision, stating, “This urgent decision recognises PEPFAR’s critical role in the AIDS response and restores hope to people living with HIV.”
The funding pause, which was part of a broader review of programmatic efficiencies and alignment with US foreign policy, marked one of the first major foreign policy decisions by the new administration.
UNAIDS remains committed to ensuring that people living with or affected by HIV receive continued support.
Additionally, the agency will continue to advocate for ongoing services related to HIV prevention, care, and support for orphans and vulnerable children, which are vital components of the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).
The funding halt had been prompted by an executive order issued by President Trump, which paused all foreign assistance for 90 days.
PEPFAR, the world’s leading HIV initiative, directly supports more than 20 million people living with HIV, representing two-thirds of the global population receiving HIV treatment.
The waiver restores the continuation of “life-saving humanitarian assistance,” allowing for the resumption of core medical supplies and HIV treatment services.
The World Health Organization (WHO) had earlier expressed concerns about the pause’s potential effects on HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries, where the majority of those living with HIV reside.
WHO warned that prolonged disruptions could lead to increased infections and deaths, reversing years of progress and potentially pushing the world back to the 1980s and 1990s, when millions of people died annually from HIV-related causes, including many in the U.S.
PEPFAR, which has been a flagship initiative in the global fight against HIV for over two decades, has saved more than 26 million lives during that time.
The initiative operates in over 50 countries and provides treatment to more than 20 million people living with HIV worldwide, including 566,000 children under the age of 15.
The WHO also highlighted that PEPFAR has been working with countries to create sustainability plans for greater self-reliance in managing HIV care.
A sudden, prolonged disruption of services would hinder these plans, putting millions of lives at risk.
WHO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting PEPFAR and other partners in ensuring a smooth transition and minimizing any negative impact on people living with HIV.