The Executive Director of UNAIDS, Winnie Byanyima, has called for stronger support for the global AIDS response, meeting with Catholic Church leaders in Vatican City to rally faith communities in a time of crisis.
Speaking at Vatican events, Byanyima highlighted the impact of the recent pause in the world’s largest AIDS relief program, which supports 20 million people living with HIV. While a humanitarian waiver has allowed some lifesaving medicines to be distributed, the long-term future of the program remains uncertain.
A statement from UNAIDS on Thursday warned that without U.S. funding, global HIV prevention and treatment efforts are at risk. The agency estimates that within four years, 6.3 million people could die, 8.9 million could contract HIV, and 370,000 babies could be born with the virus, half of whom may not survive beyond two years without treatment.
Byanyima acknowledged the historical role of churches in responding to the HIV crisis and urged faith leaders to advocate for the restoration of critical funding. “The church has a powerful voice that reaches communities worldwide,” she said. “We need faith leaders to defend the global AIDS response and lifesaving programs like PEPFAR. Human life is sacred—and today, it hangs in the balance.”
She also emphasized the potential of new medical breakthroughs, such as Gilead’s lenacapavir, which can prevent HIV with just two injections per year. If made accessible, it could be a turning point in the fight against AIDS. However, she warned that progress could be reversed without sufficient funding.
Even before the U.S. funding pause, UNAIDS reported a $9.5 billion gap in global AIDS financing. An estimated $29.3 billion is required to keep countries on track to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
At the Vatican, Byanyima also advocated for sustainable domestic funding, urging low- and middle-income countries to implement proper taxation and debt relief measures to support HIV programs.
UNAIDS reaffirmed its commitment to working with the United States, other donors, and affected countries to ensure a strong and sustainable global HIV response.
