Cross The Last Mile - Implications of the US funding cuts

About This Episode

In this episode of Crossing the Last Mile, UNAIDS Regional Director Anne Githuku-Shongwe discusses the ongoing fight to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 in the wake of sudden, devastating cuts to US international aid. While these abrupt funding halts led to massive clinic closures and the loss of nearly 200,000 health worker jobs overnight, the crisis sparked incredible resilience, prompting African governments to mobilize domestic resources through new tax levies and budget shifts to maintain life-saving treatments. However, the battle is not over; vulnerable populations like LGBTQ+ individuals and young women remain at high risk, demonstrating that HIV is a proxy indicator for deeper socio-cultural issues like gender violence, child marriage, and educational disparities. Despite these challenges, the introduction of new preventative drugs like Lenacapavir and renewed financial commitments to the Global Fund offer immense hope, proving that with continued political will and comprehensive community engagement, the tools to defeat the epidemic are within our grasp.