Nigeria and 61 other countries experienced a significant drop in access to HIV prevention services in 2025 following reductions in international funding, according to early data released by UNAIDS.
The report revealed that nearly 40 percent fewer people received pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication used to prevent HIV infection—compared with the previous year. The number of beneficiaries fell from 3.3 million in 2024 to 2.1 million in 2025, representing a decline of about 1.2 million people across countries such as Nigeria, Cameroon, and Uganda.
Funding for condoms, another key HIV prevention tool, also declined drastically, dropping by more than 90 percent in some countries.
UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima described the situation as one of the most severe disruptions to HIV services since the global response to the epidemic began.
She warned that reduced funding, coupled with increasing restrictions and discrimination affecting key populations, including LGBTQ communities, could result in higher numbers of new HIV infections and deaths unless urgent action is taken.
According to the data, new HIV infections in 2025 fell slightly by around 100,000 cases, bringing the total to approximately 1.2 million. However, Byanyima noted that HIV testing declined by 22 percent in some heavily affected countries, making it difficult to fully assess the scale of the epidemic.
Despite the setbacks in prevention efforts, treatment services showed modest progress. The number of people receiving antiretroviral therapy increased by 2.7 percent, reaching 32.1 million by December 2025.
Although this growth was lower than the average annual increase of about 4 percent recorded in previous years, UNAIDS said it reflected efforts by governments and local communities to sustain treatment programmes despite financial challenges.
The agency, however, stressed that prevention initiatives have struggled more severely under the funding cuts, while many community-based organisations that form the backbone of HIV response efforts are being forced to close because they depend heavily on international aid.
The report was released ahead of a high-level United Nations meeting on HIV/AIDS scheduled to take place in New York later this month, where UNAIDS is expected to call for stronger global support.
Meanwhile, the agency itself is facing uncertainty after the UN proposed shutting it down in 2026 as part of measures to address its own funding crisis.
Byanyima said reforms are underway within UNAIDS and that a final report on the agency’s future is expected in October, adding that the United Nations remains committed to leading the global fight against HIV/AIDS.