ISTANBUL, Dec 1 — The World Health Organisation (WHO) has warned that 1.3 million people were infected with HIV in 2024, stressing a sharp stagnation in global prevention efforts as foreign aid cuts disrupt treatment, testing, and community-led programmes worldwide.
Anadolu Ajansi reported the United Nations health agency as saying that the global AIDS response has reached a “critical crossroads,” with new infections disproportionately affecting the world’s most vulnerable communities.
“We face significant challenges, with cuts to international funding and prevention stalling. At the same time, we have significant opportunities…Expanding access to new tools must be priority number one," said Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus on Monday, marking World AIDS Day.
WHO also warned that stigma, discrimination. and legal barriers continue to prevent people most at risk from accessing health care.
Globally, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV in 2024, and 630,000 people died from HIV-related causes.
It added that sudden reductions in international funding this year have had “severe and immediate” effects. Prevention, testing and treatment services were scaled back or suspended in several countries.
The AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition estimates that 2.5 million people who used PrEP in 2024 lost access in 2025 due solely to donor cuts, a setback which the WHO said could have long-lasting impacts.
Despite the funding crisis, 2025 highlighted significant progress with the introduction of lenacapavir (LEN), a highly effective, twice-yearly injectable approved by the WHO as a new pre-exposure prophylaxis option.
WHO noted that LEN represents a “transformative intervention”, as it is designed for people who struggle with daily oral medication or face stigma at health facilities.
It prequalified the drug on October 6, paving the way for rapid approvals in South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia.
“We are entering a new era of powerful innovations in HIV prevention and treatment.But without urgent action and investment, millions will not benefit from these advances," said WHO's HIV, TB, Hepatitis, and STIs department director Dr Tereza Kasaeva.
The agency urged governments to integrate HIV services into primary health care, increase domestic investment, and protect the rights of key populations.
Despite current disruptions, the determination of affected communities remains central to ending AIDS as a public health threat.
“Overcoming disruption and transforming the AIDS response,” the WHO said, adding that it requires both global solidarity and rapid deployment of innovations that can prevent the subsequent million infections.
