AIDS response caught in a debt trap

Shobha Shukla (CNS)
Contd from previous issue
Even development aid from richer nations is fast shrinking. “But over US$ 500 billion have been spent by warring parties in one war in Ukraine,” said Winnie. “The cost of not ending AIDS would be exponentially higher than the cost of ending AIDS by 2030. That is why we must ensure that Govts fully fund the global AIDS response.”
Compared to 2022, global HIV financing did not increase in 2023 but instead dropped by 5%. The decline in domestic resourcing for HIV was even higher (6%) in 2023 (compared to 2022). It is important to note that almost two-thirds of HIV financing comes from domestic resources within a country (59%) – which is being severely constrained by the debt crisis.
The latest UNAIDS report 2024 “The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads” which was launched last month at the world's largest AIDS conference (25th International AIDS Conference or AIDS 2024) shows that in countries and regions where HIV financing has declined significantly – such as in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, Latin America and the Middle East and North Africa – the HIV epidemic is growing. Around half of the total resources needed by 2025, and 93% of the current HIV funding gap, are outside of Sub-Saharan Africa.
“The UNAIDS report 2024 demonstrates that the actions that leaders will take this year will determine whether the world succeeds in ensuring that we reach the end of AIDS by 2030 - or we fail,” said Winnie.
Path to end AIDS is not a mystery – it is a political and a financial choice
With restructuring of debt and financial architecture where human rights and people’s wellbeing are central, Govts need to ensure that domestic financing for health (and HIV) is sustained and increases to opti- mal levels. International development aid should not decline too.
“I am HIV positive myself. I am a gay man. I am in a very lucky position because I live in a country (Germany) where (HIV) treatment is available and where there is no discrimination,” said Peter Wiessner of Action Against AIDS Germany. (To be contd)