UNAIDS says sharp funding reductions are weakening HIV prevention efforts across dozens of countries, including Nigeria.
Nigeria and 61 other countries have experienced significant cuts in funding for HIV prevention programmes, according to the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS).
The agency said funding for preventive tools, including condom distribution, dropped by more than 90% in some countries. While treatment programmes have largely remained stable, prevention efforts are struggling to cope with the loss of international support.
Despite the funding challenges, the number of people receiving HIV treatment increased by 2.7% in 2025, reaching 32.1 million people on antiretroviral therapy by December. UNAIDS said this growth was lower than previous annual increases of around 4%, but showed that governments and communities had stepped in to prevent a major treatment crisis.
UNAIDS also noted that domestic HIV funding increased in several countries for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic. However, the agency warned that many community-based organisations, which play a critical role in HIV prevention and awareness campaigns, are shutting down due to reduced international aid.
The warning comes ahead of a high-level United Nations meeting on HIV/AIDS later this month. UNAIDS is also facing its own funding challenges after the UN proposed closing the agency in 2026 as part of wider cost-cutting measures.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said reforms are underway and insisted the United Nations would continue to play a leading role in the global fight against HIV/AIDS.
