In a shocking turn of events, recent cuts to U.S. funding for global HIV prevention programs, specifically through the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), have ignited serious alarm among public health experts. At the forefront of this issue is Dr. Mulugeta Gebregziabher, a distinguished professor of public health at the Medical University of South Carolina.

Speaking out at the IAS 2025 meeting in Kigali, Rwanda, Gebregziabher passionately warned that these financial pullbacks could jeopardize decades of progress made in the fight against HIV. Although voicing his personal views, he emphasized the critical implications of these funding reductions on public health initiatives.

As a U.S. citizen originally from Africa, Gebregziabher understands firsthand the significant role PEPFAR has played globally. His comments were bolstered by the alarming statistics from the 2025 UNAIDS report, which revealed that PEPFAR supported HIV testing for a staggering 84 million individuals and treatment for over 20 million just last year.

"In the U.S., approximately 1.2 million people are living with HIV/AIDS, and shockingly, 13% are unaware of their status," Dr. Gebregziabher stated, stressing the urgent need for increased testing and awareness.

The epidemic continues to disproportionately affect racial and ethnic minorities, as well as gay and bisexual men, highlighting the ongoing challenges in public health equity. Dr. Gebregziabher called for the U.S. to lead globally at a critical juncture, especially as the nation turns away from investing in key institutions like the CDC and USAID, not to mention its withdrawal from the WHO.

Despite these dire warnings, Dr. Gebregziabher remains hopeful about the future of HIV prevention. He pointed to innovative tools such as PrEP (Pre-exposure prophylaxis) as crucial elements in combating the virus. Additionally, he believes that the global health community will unite to achieve ambitious goals—like the 95-95-95 initiative, aimed at diagnosing 95% of those living with HIV, treating 95% of those diagnosed, and achieving viral suppression in 95% of treated individuals.

However, he cautioned that without stable U.S. leadership and funding, both domestic and international efforts could falter. The stakes have never been higher as the world grapples with the complexities of a borderless health crisis—it's time for urgent action!