Declining international funding for HIV/AIDS programmes is putting Africa’s progress in the fight against HIV at risk, with children among the most vulnerable, health experts have warned.
The reduction in global HIV financing is raising concerns about access to HIV testing, treatment and prevention services, particularly for children and pregnant women across Africa.
According to UNAIDS, about 1.2 million people acquired HIV globally in 2025, while approximately 570,000 people died from AIDS-related illnesses. The agency has warned that without urgent action and sustained investment, millions more people could contract HIV by 2030.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 26th International AIDS Conference in Brazil, Dr. Doris Macharia, President of the Elizabeth Glaser Pediatric AIDS Foundation, described children as the “canary in the coal mine” of the global HIV response.
She explained that rising HIV infections among children and declining treatment coverage could indicate broader weaknesses within national healthcare systems.
Dr. Macharia also warned that sudden reductions in HIV/AIDS funding are already affecting programmes responsible for identifying, treating and monitoring children living with HIV, particularly in African countries.
Ghana Faces Paediatric HIV Challenges
Ghana is also facing concerns over the potential impact of reduced international health funding. Although the country has recorded progress in HIV prevention, testing and treatment, significant gaps remain in healthcare access for children.
Recent national estimates indicate that more than 18,000 children in Ghana are living with HIV, while new paediatric infections continue to be recorded.
Health experts fear that funding disruptions could affect critical services, including HIV testing for pregnant women, early infant diagnosis, access to antiretroviral medicines and follow-up care for children living with HIV.
There are also concerns that weakened health programmes and data systems could result in some children being missed by the healthcare system, making it harder to identify new infections and ensure patients remain on treatment.
Ending Mother-to-Child HIV Transmission Remains Possible
Despite the challenges, Dr. Macharia believes that eliminating mother-to-child transmission of HIV remains achievable.
Countries such as Botswana and Brazil have demonstrated that sustained investment in healthcare, effective HIV testing and access to treatment can significantly reduce transmission from mothers to their babies.
For Ghana to maintain its progress, experts say continued investment is needed in HIV prevention, antenatal testing, early infant diagnosis, antiretroviral treatment and reliable health data systems.
The concern is that the impact of funding cuts may not immediately become visible. However, children who are not tested, diagnosed or treated today could contribute to a rise in new HIV infections in the future.
Sustained HIV/AIDS financing is therefore considered critical to protecting children, strengthening healthcare systems and preserving Africa’s progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Source: newsthemegh.com