Governments at the 78^th annual World Health Assembly have adopted a global Pandemic Agreement. The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and other stakeholders played an important role in supporting the process by advocating for an agreement that centres equity and human rights.

Responding to the news, Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, said:

“Amid the devastating crisis in global health funding, this truly global agreement offers a ray of hope. It is an affirmation that multilateralism remains possible, and indeed the only way to fight the viruses that exploit global divisions but refuse to respect borders.

I congratulate South Africa and France as Co-Chairs; Australia, Brazil, Egypt and Thailand as Vice-Chairs—each representing their region—and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros for this landmark achievement. 

The text is a commitment that global equitable access will be a guiding principle in pandemic preparedness, prevention and response. Crucially, governments will attach conditions to public funding—which means that, when a pharmaceutical company takes public money, it should come with clear conditions requiring equitable access. And it makes technology transfer a priority.

While the Agreement is a product of compromise—and governments should treat it as a floor, not a ceiling—still, it gives humanity some of the tools needed to ensure the next pandemic does not repeat the horrific inequity of HIV and COVID-19. It is our chance to break the pandemic-inequality cycle—and governments should be bold and swift in their implementation.”

Ms Byanyima will discuss the implications of the Pandemic Agreement on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly at an event organized by the Global Council on Inequality, AIDS and Pandemics on Wednesday 21 May, 08:30 – 10:00 CET. Find out more about UNAIDS’s engagements at #WHA78 here.

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.

GENEVA, 19 May 2025— As funding cuts threaten to cause an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million preventable AIDS-related deaths, UNAIDS is calling on governments and partners attending the 78th World Health Assembly (WHA) to recommit to ending AIDS by 2030.

UNAIDS estimates that an additional 2300 people are contracting HIV every day. Without immediate action to dismantle barriers to healthcare, strengthen community-led responses, and unlock sustainable financing, a catastrophic loss of life and millions more new HIV infections could reverse decades of progress.

“I remember the darkest days of AIDS – the millions of lives lost, and the existential threat to global health security. We must not go back,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima. “Amid disruption, the international community needs to come together to protect the gains made in the response to HIV and see this battle through to the end.”

A HIV prevention revolution

Long-acting injectable antiretroviral medicines such as lenacapavir – twice-yearly shots that are almost 100% effective in preventing new HIV infections – offer a chance to put the world back on track.

“We have an opportunity today of new, long-acting HIV prevention tools that could fundamentally reshape the HIV response and put us on course to end AIDS by 2030”, said Ms Byanyima. “We need a moonshot approach to mobilize a HIV prevention revolution – to scale-up these potentially revolutionary medicines and make them available and affordable to everyone who needs them.”

UNAIDS, the Global HIV Prevention Coalition, government ministers, community representatives, civil society and the pharmaceutical sector will discuss how to remove barriers to accessing lenacapavir, including pricing, intellectual property issues and regulatory hurdles at a special event on the sidelines of the WHA.

Preparing for future pandemic threats

During #WHA78, member states will adopt a Pandemic Agreement, after three years of negotiations reached a consensus last month. “UNAIDS watched in horror as the world repeated many of the mistakes of the AIDS pandemic with COVID-19. With the Pandemic Agreement, governments have a chance to say, ‘never again.’

“I congratulate South Africa and France as Co-Chairs; Australia, Brazil, Egypt and Thailand as Vice-Chairs — each representing their region — and WHO Director-General Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus for this landmark achievement. It is proof that, even in times of crisis, multilateralism and global cooperation can deliver for humanity."

At #WHA78, UNAIDS will underline the importance of implementing the Agreement, embedding equitable, inclusive and rights-based approach, advancing access to medical innovations, centring community systems, and protecting human rights.

Communities at the heart of global health

The recent cuts in external funding for global health and development have devastated community-led organizations that deliver HIV services to people highly vulnerable to HIV. Many have had to close their doors or severely reduce their activities as international funding suddenly stopped.

UNAIDS, Coalition Plus, Frontline AIDS and UNAIDS are co-organizing an event at #WHA78, in collaboration with WHO, focusing on the urgent need to sustain and scale up community-led health systems amidst mounting global crises and shrinking international aid.

Africa’s pathway to sustainable health systems

UNAIDS has been working with governments to develop detailed transition plans towards greater domestic ownership of their HIV responses. Domestic resources already account for more than 60% of the HIV response. In the face of massive cuts to international funding, Global South leaders are stepping up and accelerating efforts, but many countries are still facing huge challenges to increase domestic HIV funding when budgets are being drained by unsustainable debt repayments.

UNAIDS will talk about the urgent need for international financial reform to enable sustainable health financing for Africa in an event co-organized with Nigeria’s Ministry of Health and Social Welfare and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, and other partners.

UNAIDS KEY EVENTS AT #WHA78

PHNOM PENH, 16 May 2025—UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, saw firsthand Cambodia’s strong progress towards ending AIDS as a public health threat during her 12-16 May mission. Among other achievements, the country treats 100% of people who are aware of their HIV status. Key approaches include national roll-out of modern HIV prevention and treatment tools, community-led service delivery and social protection. During the visit she discussed the sustainability of the response with the Royal Government and partners. 

“Cambodia’s HIV response demonstrates that ending AIDS is possible for low- and middle-income countries when we combine political will, community leadership and international support,” Ms Byanyima said.

Cambodia is on track to achieve the 95-95-95 Global AIDS Strategy targets. Currently 92% of people living with HIV are aware of their status. Almost all diagnosed people are on treatment, while more than 98% of those on treatment have achieved a suppressed viral load. Since 2010, new infections have decreased by 45%. This is higher than the overall global results and more than three times faster than the average Asia-Pacific rate of decline. 

The country employs a multisectoral approach that includes social assistance and free healthcare access for people living with HIV and key populations. It has also prioritized peer- and community-led voluntary counselling and testing, adherence support and prevention services. To achieve and sustain epidemic control there must be continued investments, including increased domestic financial ownership of the response.

H.E. Prime Minister Samdech Thipadei Hun Manet thanked the United Nations for its support of Cambodia’s socio-economic development and expressed appreciation for UNAIDS’ active role in strengthening its HIV response. 

“When we talk about building human capital, we must pay attention to the health of the people,” he said.

Prime Minister Hun Manet stressed the importance of deepening this cooperation and partnership while announcing a new financial contribution to UNAIDS. 

“This contribution is symbolic of the importance Cambodia places on UNAIDS, the HIV response, and the multilateral system,” Ms Byanyima said. “It sends a signal to donors and to other Association of Southeast Asian Nations countries about the importance of continued investment in ending pandemics.”

In a meeting with the UNAIDS Executive Director, community representatives called for continued funding for people-centered strategies, as well as support to end stigma and discrimination. 

Ms Byanyima’s mission included a visit to the National Clinic for AIDS, Dermatology and Sexually Transmitted Diseases in Phnom Penh. The clinic is a model for service integration and community-led care. Open seven days a week, it provides peer-led counseling, testing and treatment for HIV and sexually transmitted infections, non-communicable disease services, mental health screening and multiple pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) options. PrEP is the use of antiretroviral therapy by HIV-negative people to avoid contracting the virus if exposed.

In Siem Reap, Ms Byanyima joined the Health Action Coordinating Committee and Joint Forum of Networks of People Living with HIV and Key Populations awareness raising campaign on U=U (undetectable equals untransmittable). U=U refers to the scientific fact that people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load through successful treatment have zero chance of passing the virus to a sexual partner. Cambodia has embraced this concept to not only increase treatment adherence but also stop stigma and discrimination against people living with HIV.

“HIV cannot harm us if we take our ARV medication correctly, regularly, and consistently,” said Sorn Vichheka, Coordinator of the Cambodian Community of Women Living with HIV at the U=U event. “When our viral load is undetectable, we cannot transmit the virus to our partners. This means we can live freely—we can dream, work, love, have families, and even have children, just like anyone else.”

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.

Delegates at the World Health Organization (WHO) Intergovernmental Negotiating Body (INB) have today reached a consensus on the Pandemic Agreement. Negotiations began in 2021, with an aim of building a framework for pandemic preparedness, prevention, and response that learned from the COVID-19 and AIDS pandemics. 

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and other stakeholder played an important role in supporting the process by advocating for an agreement that centres equity and human rights.  

In response to the news of the consensus Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, stated: 

“During COVID-19, we at UNAIDS watched in horror as the world failed to learn the lessons of AIDS, a pandemic we have been fighting for decades. The consensus reached today is a critical first step towards ensuring the world never makes the same mistakes again – and proof that, in a time of instability, global cooperation can deliver for humanity. 

This is an agreement with human rights at its heart, prioritising community engagement and whole-of-society and whole-of-government approaches to pandemic preparedness, prevention and response. But, while the agreement supports equitable access to lifesaving vaccines, tests, and medicines, it falls short of what developing countries called for, particularly regarding obligations to transfer technology. 

The Pandemic Agreement is not a panacea. If adopted by the World Health Assembly, a fairer response to future health crises will depend on member states taking concrete steps to implement the agreement. Governments will need clear implementation frameworks, including timelines for ensuring that all can benefit from affordable access to scientific innovation. 

But if this text is adopted and implemented, if it is honoured in spirit as well as in letter, it can lay the foundations for a more effective and equitable response to future health crises – and ensure that the next time a pandemic threat emerges, it will be met by a global health system that is fairer, safer, and more resilient.” 

JOHANNESBURG/GENEVA, 25 February 2025—UNAIDS welcomes South Africa’s plan to put an additional 1.1 million people living with HIV on life-saving treatment by the end of 2025 as a significant step towards ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

At the launch of the Close The Gap campaign in Soweto South Africa’s Minister of Health, Aaron Motsoaledi, said, “We should not accept that AIDS is here forever. It is not. We want to end it. It’s all in our hands and it depends on our will. We can stop it so that in future we can work on other diseases. We are taking the last mile.”

UNAIDS described the plan as inspiring.

“This plan protects the human rights of people living with HIV, offering them hope and an opportunity to live healthy and fulfilling lives by getting them onto life-saving medication,” said UNAIDS regional director for East and Southern Africa, Anne Githuku-Shongwe. “As South Africa embarks on this inspiring journey, be assured that UNAIDS will continue its strong partnership with the government of South Africa to ensure that everyone living with and affected by HIV is protected through proven scientific and evidence-based interventions.”

In South Africa, there were 7.7 million people living with HIV in 2023, with 5.9 million people already accessing lifesaving antiretroviral treatment which enables them to live healthy and productive lives. Without treatment, people living with HIV are at risk of contracting opportunistic life-threatening infections because of their weakened immune system. 

At the launch, Gordon Didiza, a young man living with HIV urged other men to test for HIV and to start treatment if necessary. “I am grateful for treatment because it has kept me alive and healthy since I was diagnosed with HIV,” Mr Didiza has also survived tuberculosis.

While South Africa has the highest number of people living with HIV in the world, it has already made enormous progress in expanding the number of people accessing treatment for HIV, resulting in a 66% decrease in AIDS-related deaths since 2010. New HIV infections have also fallen by 58%. When people are taking effective HIV medication they no longer transmit the virus, meaning that treatment rollout alongside other HIV combination prevention measures, contributes to lower rates of infection and future cost savings.

Domestic resources account for around 74% of South Africa’s HIV response, which demonstrates the political will and commitment of the country’s leadership to end the AIDS pandemic. However, many services still rely on funding from the US government which accounts for around 17% of the country’s financing for the AIDS response. The sudden 90-day pause to US foreign assistance is putting some services at risk, especially HIV prevention services for young women and adolescent girls and other marginalized communities. More than 800 young women and adolescent girls aged 15—24 become infected with HIV every week in South Africa.

UNAIDS is working closely with the South African government and other partners to mitigate the impact and ensure the continuity of HIV services.

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.

ROME/GENEVA, 13 February 2025—Today, the Executive Director of UNAIDS Winnie Byanyima met with leaders in the Catholic Church as part of a global effort to mobilize voices of faith to stand up in a moment of crisis for the AIDS response.

Speaking to communities of faith at events in Vatican City Ms Byanyima said, “Two weeks ago, the world’s biggest AIDS relief programme was paused. 20 million people living with HIV rely on the United States Government for the medication they need to stay alive and prevent HIV infection. A humanitarian waiver was issued allowing some lifesaving medicines to be distributed. That is welcome. But the programme’s future remains uncertain.”

HIV clinics around the world have shuttered and HIV prevention and treatment programmes have been derailed. Without funding from the United States, within four years, 6.3 million people will die and 8.9 million will newly acquire HIV. Around 370 000 babies will acquire HIV, and without treatment, half will not live to see their second birthday.

The AIDS movement has been through this before. When people were dying from neglect in the early days of HIV in Africa, Asia, and Latin America it was the churches that stepped up to care for the sick and dying. Catholic Leaders have called urgently for the restoration of HIV programmes and other crucial international funding.

“The church has a powerful voice that reaches into communities around the world,” said Ms Byanyima. “We need the voice of faith and the leadership of faith in the world that we are in today–this time to defend the global AIDS response and lifesaving programmes like PEPFAR. Human life is sacred–and today, it hangs in the balance.”

The AIDS response has recently been presented with a game-changing opportunity. In 2024, Gilead announced that its breakthrough medicine lenacapavir can prevent HIV with injections just twice a year. If made available and affordable to all in need, this could present the opportunity to end what has been the deadliest pandemic in generations.

“Humanity has made incredible progress tackling AIDS. But let me be clear. Without funding for the HIV response, we risk losing all we have gained and could see a resurgent AIDS pandemic. And if we want national governments to plug the gap, we must give them the means to do so and support a sustainable transition,” said Ms Byanyima.

Even before the US announcement, the AIDS response had a financing gap of US$ 9.5 billion. UNAIDS estimates that US$ 29.3 billion is needed to get countries on track and end the AIDS pandemic by 2030.

“That is why at the Vatican today we are also focused on enabling low- and middle-income countries to raise domestic funding for the HIV response. Proper taxation and relieving the crushing burden of debt are critical.”

UNAIDS will continue to partner with the United States, other donors and countries most affected by HIV to ensure a robust and sustainable response to HIV and to achieve our collective goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

UNAIDS is documenting the Impact of recent U.S. shifts on the global HIV response online.

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.

GENEVA, 1 February 2025— The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is urging for a continuation of all essential HIV services while the United States pauses its funding for foreign aid.   

On 29 January, UNAIDS welcomed the news that United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, had approved an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver,” allowing people to continue accessing lifesaving HIV treatment funded by the U.S. in 55 countries worldwide. More than 20 million people - two-thirds of all people living with HIV accessing HIV treatment globally - are directly supported by the United States President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR).

While continuity of HIV treatment is essential, services must continue to be monitored, and oversight provided for quality. Other critical HIV services for people, especially marginalized people including children, women, and key populations, must continue. Last year, PEPFAR provided over 83.8 million people with critical HIV testing services; reached 2.3 million adolescent girls and young women with HIV prevention services; 6.6 million orphans, vulnerable children, and their caregivers received HIV care and support; and 2.5 million people were newly enrolled on pre-exposure prophylaxis to prevent HIV infection.

Since PEPFAR was created, the United States has been steadfast in its leadership in the fight against HIV. The U.S. has saved millions of lives through its programmes, particularly in the countries most affected by HIV. PEPFAR has had remarkable results in stopping new infections and expanding access to HIV treatment – and this must continue.

Globally, there are 1.3 million people that are newly infected with HIV every year, 3,500 every day. Young women and girls in Africa are at alarming high risk of HIV, where 3,100 young women and girls aged 15 to 24 years become infected with HIV every week and at least half of all people from key populations are not being reached with prevention services.

Pregnant women in high HIV prevalent areas must be tested for HIV to determine whether they are living with HIV so they can protect their baby by taking antiretroviral therapy prior to birth. As a result, babies will be born HIV-free. 

Many organizations providing services for people living with HIV that are funded, or partly funded, by PEPFAR have reported they will shut their doors due to the funding pause with lack of clarity and great uncertainty about the future. UNAIDS is evaluating the impact and will provide routine and real-time updates to share the latest global and country information, data, guidance, and references.

“PEPFAR gave us hope and now the executive order is shattering the very hope it offered for all people living with HIV and our families.  As communities we are in shock with the continued closure of clinics. We resolutely demand that all our governments come in haste to fill the gap in human resources needed at the moment to ensure sustainability of HIV service delivery,” said Flavia Kyomukama, Executive Director at National Forum of People Living with HIV Network Uganda (NAFOPHANU).

Zimbabwe`s umbrella network of people living with HIV (ZNNP+) stated that the implementation of stop work orders has led to significant fears, including reduced access to essential services, loss of community trust and long-term health outcomes.

 As the waiver is effective for a review period of all U.S. foreign development assistance, future coverage of HIV services - including for treatment - remains unclear and the lives of the millions of people supported by PEPFAR are in jeopardy and could be at stake.

Anele Yawa, General Secretary for the Treatment Action Campaign is worried. "The PEPFAR-fund freeze will take South Africa and the world back in terms of the gains we have made in our response to HIV,” he said. "We are asking ourselves how are we going to cope in the next three months as people are going to be left behind in terms of prevention, treatment and care."

At a moment when the world can finally get the upper hand on one of the world’s deadliest pandemics, aided by new long-acting HIV prevention and treatment medicines coming to market this year, UNAIDS urges the U.S. to continue its unparalleled leadership and accelerate, not diminish, efforts to end AIDS.

UNAIDS looks forward to partnering with the United States, other donors and countries most affected by HIV to ensure a robust and sustainable response to HIV and to achieve our collective goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

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.

GENEVA/LUSAKA, 30 January 2025—Zambian football star Racheal Kundananji has been appointed as a UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassador to champion the fight to end AIDS as a public health threat in Zambia.

In her new role, Ms Kundananji will work with UNAIDS to champion HIV prevention, advocate for girls’ education to help reduce new HIV infections and sexually transmitted infections. She will also highlight the importance of preventing teenage pregnancy and advocate for an increase in HIV testing and access to health services for young people. 

“I am so happy to be collaborating with UNAIDS to end AIDS as a public health threat in my country Zambia,” said Ms Kundananji. “Achieving this will require a collective effort, including ensuring that all young people in Zambia, particularly girls, remain in secondary education to reduce their risk of HIV infection and provide them with better economic opportunities.” 

Ms Kundananji is already using her platform to drive change. She founded the Racheal Kundananji Legacy Foundation to harness the power of sport to address gender-based violence, sexual and reproductive health, and child marriage, demonstrating her deep commitment to empowering women and girls and tackling gender inequality.  

“Ms Kundananji shares UNAIDS’ vision of ending AIDS as public health threat in Zambia by 2030,” said Isaac Ahemesah, UNAIDS Country Director for Zambia. “That world is possible. Leaders must ensure that girls stay in school and increase political and financial support to end the AIDS epidemic, by stopping new HIV infections and ensuring that everyone who needs treatment for HIV has access.” 

United Nations Resident Coordinator for Zambia, Ms. Beatrice Mutali, praised Ms Kundananji’s dedication to advancing and promoting HIV awareness, testing, prevention and the  Education Plus Initiative, which promotes girls’ school attendance. She also called for gender equality in sports, emphasizing the need for equal pay for equal work for women and men in all fields.

Ms Kundananji shattered the global women’s football transfer record, becoming the most expensive player in the history of women’s football. She is the first African footballer - male or female - to break the world transfer record. Now playing for Bay FC, an American professional women's soccer team based in the San Francisco Bay Area, she competes in the prestigious National Women's Soccer League, solidifying her place as a trailblazer on the global football stage. 

Ms Kundananji has represented the Zambian National team since 2018 at the African Cup of Nations, FIFA World Cup Qualifiers and the Olympic qualifiers. Ms Kundananji has also played for Madrid Club de Fútbol Femenino among others.

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.

UNAIDS urges speed and compassion urging pharmaceutical companies to enable access to new, life-saving medicines

DAVOS/GENEVA, 21 January 2025—Today, at the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting in Davos, Switzerland the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has warned that new long-acting HIV prevention – and potentially treatment – medicines can help usher in the end of AIDS if corporate and political leaders move quickly and urgently to prioritise access for all low and middle-income countries.

Lenacapavir, produced by Gilead Sciences, has proved to be more than 95% effective in preventing HIV with just two doses a year and the company is now conducting trials of once-yearly shots. ViiV Healthcare has the injectable medicine Cabotegravir, administered once every two months to prevent HIV, which is already being used in some countries. Month-long vaginal rings are also in use and longer acting pills and vaginal rings are being trialled.

“These new technologies offer us a real shot at ending AIDS by 2030,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations. “But it comes with a caveat—only if pharmaceutical companies, governments, international partners and civil society unite around an HIV prevention and treatment revolution, can we use these medicines to their full potential and end AIDS much sooner than we previously thought.”

The breakthrough long-acting medicines could stem new HIV infections and are already being used to suppress the virus for some people living with HIV. But their potential can’t be unlocked unless everyone, everywhere who could benefit has access.

UNAIDS is urging pharmaceutical companies to move faster and ensure “affordable pricing and generic competition” in the market for the new HIV medicines. “We have no problem with profit, but we will not stand for profiteering,” said Ms Byanyima.

Gilead and ViiV have licensed generics manufacturing to a number of countries, which is to be applauded, but they are moving too slowly. Generics aren’t expected until next year- and many countries have been left out. Nearly all of Latin America, a region of rising HIV infections, has been excluded. In addition, to provide for the whole world, Gilead has licensed just six companies to make generic versions of the medicine – with no producer in sub-Saharan Africa. To make these medicines widely available and affordable, more generic production is needed.

Gilead has not announced a price for lenacapavir for prevention. However, used as treatment in the United States, the medicine can cost around US$ 40 000 per year per person. One study suggests that, if 10 million people are reached, generics could cost just $40 per person per year, a thousand times less.

At the end of 2023 only 3.5 million people are using pre-exposure prophylaxis. UNAIDS goal is to reach 10 million with preventative HIV medicine by the end of 2025. “This is possible, said Ms Byanyima, “But only if we have ambition. Look at injectable contraceptives—72 million women around the world accessed them in 2022. Look at COVID-19 vaccines in rich countries – 4.5 billion people were vaccinated in a year. Why can we not have the same ambition for HIV? We did it for HIV treatment and we can do it for prevention. We have done it before – and we can do it again.”

Today, 30 million of the 40 million people living with HIV are now on treatment—a huge, but long-awaited achievement which destroyed families and cost far too many lives.

While these new medicines are not a cure or a vaccine, they could halt the HIV pandemic.

The Global Fund to fight AIDS, TB and Malaria and the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) recently announced a deal to get lenacapavir to 2 million people over the next three years. Which is a good start but not ambitious enough.

"Science has delivered a miraculous new tool: medicines that prevent HIV infection with injections just twice a year and which could work for treatment too,” said Ms Byanyima. “We must do better this time. Either companies step up, or governments step in. This is our shot to end AIDS – and we cannot afford to miss it."

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.

ABUJA, NIGERIA, 3 December 2024 — The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) is pleased to announce the appointment of Funke Akindele, a multiple award-winning actress, movie producer and director, as its new National Goodwill Ambassador (GWA) for Nigeria. This prestigious nomination recognizes Funke Akindele’s outstanding contributions to the fight against HIV and her unwavering commitment to advocacy, raising awareness, and driving efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.

Funke Akindele’s career took off with her role in the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)-sponsored television series “I Need to Know”, which focused on adolescent reproductive health and rights, including HIV. Since then, she has captivated audiences worldwide, earning millions of fans and accolades for her unforgettable roles. Known as the “Queen of Box Office” in Nollywood, Funke holds the top three slots on the list of highest-grossing Nollywood films of all time, reflecting her prominence and influence in the industry.

Over the past two decades, Funke Akindele has consistently broken barriers and used her platform to amplify social impact issues, influence positive change, and champion causes that matter. As UNAIDS’ National Goodwill Ambassador, she will contribute to efforts aimed at eliminating vertical transmission of HIV, ending HIV-related stigma and discrimination, and promoting HIV prevention across Nigeria.

Nigeria has made significant strides in the fight against HIV over the past two decades. As of 2023, approximately 2 million people are living with HIV in the country, with an adult prevalence rate of 1.3% among individuals aged 15–49. Nigeria recorded approximately 130,000 new HIV infections in 2010. By 2023, this number had declined to about 75,000 new infections, representing a reduction of approximately 55,000 cases, or a 42.3% decrease over the 13-year period. . The country has also achieved notable progress in treatment access, with 1.6 million out of the 2 million people living with HIV in Nigeria currently on treatment.

Despite these advancements, challenges remain, including addressing stigma and discrimination, and ensuring equitable access to prevention and treatment services across all regions.

“We are thrilled to welcome Funke Akindele as our National Goodwill Ambassador for Nigeria,” said Dr Leopold Zekeng, UNAIDS Country Director for Nigeria. “Her powerful voice, vast influence, and commitment to social change make her an invaluable ally in our efforts to combat HIV and support people living with HIV in Nigeria. We look forward to working with her to drive positive impact and progress in the fight against AIDS.”

The nomination process for the National Goodwill Ambassador involved active collaboration with the National Agency for the Control of AIDS (NACA), which has expressed appreciation for UNAIDS’ role in securing such a significant partnership for Nigeria’s HIV response. Funke Akindele’s work as a National Goodwill Ambassador will be vital in mobilizing efforts for HIV prevention and ensuring that key messages reach wider audiences across the country.

The official announcement of Funke Akindele’s appointment as UNAIDS National Goodwill Ambassador was made during the World AIDS Day commemoration in Abuja on 3 December 2024, during an event led by the United Nations Resident Coordinator for Nigeria, Mr. Mohammed M. Malick Fall.