US waiver guarantees HIV treatment for millions – UNAIDS
The United States Secretary of State, Marco Rubio, has authorized an “Emergency Humanitarian Waiver” to ensure continued access to HIV treatment funded by the U.S. across 55 countries.
This decision was announced by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) on Wednesday.
UNAIDS highlighted that over 20 million people living with HIV—accounting for two-thirds of all individuals receiving HIV treatment globally—are supported by the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the world’s largest HIV initiative.
UNAIDS, in collaboration with global and national partners, is working towards the goal of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, as outlined in the Sustainable Development Goals.
“UNAIDS welcomes this waiver from the U.S. government, which guarantees that millions of people living with HIV will continue to receive life-saving medication during the evaluation of U.S. foreign development assistance,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima. “This urgent decision underscores the critical role PEPFAR plays in the global AIDS response and brings renewed hope to people living with HIV.”
Recently, the U.S. Department of State issued an executive order that called for a 90-day pause on all foreign assistance, including programs funded by PEPFAR. The order was part of the new administration’s efforts to assess the efficiency and alignment of foreign aid with U.S. foreign policy.
However, UNAIDS emphasized that the waiver will allow essential HIV treatment, medical services, and supplies to continue, despite the broader funding pause. The organization also reiterated its commitment to ensuring that PEPFAR’s key initiatives—such as service delivery, HIV prevention, and support for orphans and vulnerable children—remain intact.
“UNAIDS will continue working with global partners, governments, and communities to assess the impact of the funding pause on essential HIV services and mitigate any negative effects,” the statement added.
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization (WHO) expressed significant concern about the funding pause’s potential consequences for HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries. WHO warned that it could threaten the life-saving treatment for over 30 million people worldwide.
By the end of 2023, an estimated 39.9 million people were living with HIV globally. WHO cautioned that prolonged delays in funding could risk putting individuals living with HIV in immediate danger, reverse decades of progress, and potentially cause a resurgence in HIV-related deaths similar to the crisis of the 1980s and 1990s, when millions died from the virus, including in the U.S.
The WHO also warned that halting HIV funding could undermine scientific advancements, disrupt global partnerships, and weaken public health initiatives, including the development of affordable medicines, innovative diagnostics, and community-based HIV care models.
“We urge the U.S. government to approve additional exemptions to safeguard the continuity of life-saving HIV treatment and care,” WHO said.
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