The World Health Organization (WHO) has raised concerns over the potential consequences of the United States’ decision to pause funding for HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries. This decision follows the U.S. withdrawal from the WHO under President Donald Trump and the cessation of funds from the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), a key initiative for HIV treatment in Africa and other developing regions. In a statement shared via its official social media, the WHO emphasized that these programs provide vital HIV treatment to more than 30 million people worldwide. As of the end of 2023, 39.9 million individuals globally were living with HIV.

The decision to withdraw the U.S. from the WHO began on Trump’s first day in office, when he signed an executive order, criticizing the organization for the U.S. paying disproportionately more than China. Despite this, the WHO has urged the U.S. to reconsider, stressing that the country has been pivotal in safeguarding global health and security.

The WHO warned that halting funding for HIV programs would severely jeopardize the health of people living with HIV, leading to an increased risk of illness and death. The organization cautioned that such a move, if sustained, could lead to a resurgence in new HIV infections and deaths, undoing decades of progress and potentially returning the world to the devastating impact seen in the 1980s and 1990s.

Additionally, WHO expressed concern that the funding freeze would severely impact scientific advancements and collaborations that have been essential for improving public health, including the development of innovative diagnostics and affordable treatments. It also noted that PEPFAR has been instrumental in saving over 26 million lives over the past two decades, with 20 million people currently receiving treatment, including 566,000 children under 15. WHO further highlighted the ongoing efforts to create sustainability plans for these programs, ensuring that countries will be less reliant on donor funding by 2030. A sudden disruption, the WHO warned, could derail these efforts and put millions of lives at risk.

The global health organization has urged the U.S. government to make exceptions to allow the continued delivery of life-saving HIV treatment and has reaffirmed its commitment to working with PEPFAR, other partners, and national governments to mitigate the negative effects of the funding pause.