WHO warned , world may face over 10 million new HIV infections and 3 million related deaths

The World Health Organization (WHO) has warned that the world may face over 10 million new ‘ HIV infections ‘ and 3 million related deaths due to the cessation of U.S. foreign aid that supports access to HIV medications. 

This decision has significantly impacted the distribution of these drugs in seven African countries, including Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Nigeria, and Haiti, which could run out of medications within a few months. 

WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said that this withdrawal of support could reverse two decades of progress in the fight against HIV.

” He also cautioned that efforts to control other diseases such as polio, malaria, and tuberculosis have been severely ‘affected.”

Ghebreyesus urged the U.S. to provide a transition period for the impacted countries to secure alternative funding sources, rather than abruptly halting aid, as this could lead to significant global health repercussions.

This month, the U.S. government, under President Donald Trump, announced the termination of funding for projects under its USAID agency, raising alarm particularly among many African nations reliant on such funding to combat diseases like HIV.