In commemoration of the World AIDS Day 2025, the World Health Organisation (WHO) has intensified global advocacy, urging governments to confront the widening disruptions threatening the HIV response.
The theme for this year event, “Overcoming Disruption, Transforming the AIDS Response,” the global health body in a statement, said signifies a renewed call for solidarity at a time when countries progress is increasingly vulnerable.
It disclosed that Nigeria remains one of the few nations with a significant HIV burden, and the warning hits close to home. While global numbers show 40.8 million people living with HIV and 1.3 million new infections recorded in 2024, the Nigerian context reveals deeper layers of risk: high population density, persistent stigma, and overdependence on donor-funded programmes.
The apex health institution further noted that disruptions in funding, shrinking donor support and the closure of many community-led organisations are already visible across several African countries.
“In many states, civil society organisations that once delivered testing, counselling, and prevention programmes have reported reduced activities due to operational funding cuts. This means fewer outreaches, fewer youth-focused initiatives, and fewer services for key populations.
“For communities in rural and hard-to-reach areas, these disruptions translates into delayed diagnoses and rising new infections. Health workers also warn that gaps in prevention tools such as condoms, PrEP, and self-testing kits could roll back gains made in the last decade,” WHO observed.
The WHO Regional director for the Mediterranean, Dr Hanan Balky called on all governments to raise public awareness, increase domestic funding, integrate HIV into broader health services, adopt innovative approaches and strengthen prevention through digital health and AI
WHO urges countries recording higher disruptions to take bold steps in strengthening domestic financing for HIV services. Relying heavily on international donors, is no longer sustainable.
The global health agency also advised stronger investment from federal and state governments to ensure essential services continue uninterrupted. From antenatal HIV screening to treatment for adolescents and key populations.
Stakeholders within the Nigerian HIV community have echoed WHO’s concerns. They noted that while the country has made progress in expanding treatment access, the sustainability of these gains depends on stable funding and strong political will.
Community-led organisations, many of which have been instrumental in driving progress, must be protected and empowered as they remain essential in reaching young people, women, and remote communities.
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