Fri Jul 11 02:45:02 UTC 2025: Here’s a news article summarizing the situation, written from an Indian perspective as if for “The Hindu”:
**U.S. AIDS Funding Withdrawal Threatens Global Progress, Sparks Fears of Resurgence**
**LONDON, July 11, 2025:** Decades of progress in the global fight against AIDS are at risk following a sudden halt in U.S. funding, raising alarm bells within the United Nations and among global health experts. A new UNAIDS report warns that the withdrawal of $4 billion pledged by the U.S. for 2025 could lead to a catastrophic resurgence of the disease, potentially causing an additional 4 million AIDS-related deaths and 6 million new HIV infections by 2029.
The abrupt decision, reportedly ordered by U.S. President Donald Trump in January as part of a broader suspension of foreign aid, has already destabilized vital supply chains, forcing the closure of health facilities and disrupting crucial prevention programs.
“The impact is being felt acutely in sub-Saharan Africa, where half of all new infections occur,” reports a source at the UN. “There is nothing we can do that will protect these countries from the sudden, vicious withdrawal of support from the U.S.”
The U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), launched in 2003, had been a critical lifeline, supporting testing for millions and providing treatment for over 20 million people. “The reversal of this commitment is devastating and raises serious questions about the future of global health cooperation,” says Dr. Anjali Kapoor, a public health expert at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences.
Beyond immediate treatment disruptions, the funding cuts also jeopardize vital data collection efforts. The U.S. had funded most HIV surveillance programs in many African countries. The loss of this data makes it increasingly difficult to track the spread of the virus and effectively target prevention efforts.
The setback comes even as promising new treatments, like the injectable preventative drug Yeztugo, offer hope for ending the AIDS epidemic. However, concerns remain that pricing by pharmaceutical companies will put these life-saving drugs out of reach for many nations that need them most.
India, with its own significant HIV burden, has emerged as a leader in producing affordable generic medications. Some experts suggest that India could play an even greater role in mitigating the impact of the U.S. withdrawal by scaling up its production and distribution of generic antiretroviral drugs.
“While India has made significant strides in controlling its own epidemic, this situation highlights the interconnectedness of global health challenges,” Dr. Kapoor noted. “A global pandemic requires a global response, and we must work collaboratively to ensure that progress is not lost.”
The crisis calls for a renewed commitment from other major donors, including India, to step up and fill the funding gap left by the United States. The future of the global fight against AIDS, and the lives of millions, hang in the balance.
First Piper 