New HIV infections have been reduced by 40% since 2010, and 4.4 million children have been protected from acquiring HIV since 2000. More than 26 million lives have been saved. The response to HIV is one of the most successful public health interventions in history.

However, this phenomenal progress risks being reversed. Sudden, drastic cuts from a number of donors have sent shockwaves through global health. UNAIDS’ new report, AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform, shows the impact the cuts are having globally. UNAIDS estimates that if the world does not act, there could be an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million AIDS-related deaths by 2029.

The report highlights the measures some countries are taking to fill the gaps and sustain the response into the future. However, for many, that future remains uncertain.

The HIV response was forged in crisis–and was built to be resilient. Communities, governments, and the United Nations are all transforming to meet this moment and deliver on the promise of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

WHAT: Launch of UNAIDS Global AIDS Update - AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform in partnership with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)

WHEN: Thursday, 10 July 2025

TIME: 11:30-12:30 Central African Time and CEST / 09:30-10:30 GMT

WHERE: Bertha Gxowa Hospital, Angus St, Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa

SPEAKERS:

• Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations
• Aaron Motsoaledi, Minister of Health of South Africa
• Helen Rees, Executive Director, Wits RHI
• Mbulelo Dyasi, Executive Director of SANARELA (South African Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV & AIDS)

Watch livestream on 10 July via zoom

For access to the embargoed report or interviews please contact:

UNAIDS Communications

Charlotte Sector | tel. +41 79 500 8617 | sectorc@unaids.org

Michael Hollingdale | tel. +41 79 500 2119 | hollingdalem@unaids.org

UNAIDS

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) leads and inspires the world to achieve its shared vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. UNAIDS unites the efforts of 11 UN organizations—UNHCR, UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, UN Women, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank—and works closely with global and national partners towards ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals. Learn more at unaids.org and connect with us on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and YouTube.