The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that the world could record 3.3 million new HIV infections by 2030 unless urgent steps are taken to restore and strengthen global prevention programmes weakened by funding cuts.
UNFPA Executive Director, Diene Keita, issued the alert in a statement to mark the 2025 World AIDS Day, stressing that reduced international financing is undermining progress made over decades.
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Keita said ongoing disruptions are leaving millions especially in vulnerable regions like sub-Saharan Africa without access to essential HIV prevention tools, information and community support.
She noted that nearly 2.5 million people have already lost access to lifesaving Pre-exposure Prophylaxis (PrEP) due to shrinking resources. Countries responsible for half of last year’s new HIV infections, she added, are among the hardest hit by these funding gaps.
Young women and adolescent girls remain disproportionately affected. In sub-Saharan Africa, women aged 15 to 24 account for one in four new infections, driven by gender inequality, violence and persistent stigma. Keita warned that without renewed investment, these vulnerabilities will deepen, threatening broader development and women’s health outcomes.
She called for stronger national leadership, sustainable financing and policy reforms that improve access to care. This includes decriminalising same-sex relations and sex work, tackling stigma and gender-based violence, and integrating HIV services into sexual and reproductive healthcare to reach more women and girls.
Describing the moment as a global crossroads, Keita reaffirmed UNFPA’s commitment to supporting countries in rebuilding prevention programmes. She said achieving an AIDS-free future remains possible but only with coordinated global action and sustained investment.
