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Protecting the UK’s remaining funds Global HIV response to end the fatal A decades-long pandemic It costs every UK adult less than £1.30 a year, according to new analysis independent show.
This figure builds on the government fulfilling its existing commitments to three key funds: the United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), the medicines access agency Unitaid, and the Robert Carr Fund, which ensures the voices of marginalized people most affected by HIV are included.
To maintain current funding levels, the government would need to invest around £200 million over three years, or £67 million per year. 55 million adults in the UK share this information, which may help Ending new HIV transmissions globally – What the Prime Minister has promised to do In England by 2030.
The government will confirm funding decisions for the three agencies at the end of January.
it has been announced £150m cut In recognition of his greatest contribution to the global HIV response.
Conservative MP David Mundell, co-chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on HIV/AIDS (APPG), said: “While it’s not a lot of money, every pound still means a lot to those who are struggling. But I think the key thing is, what is the replacement cost?”
“Another cost of failing to achieve zero transmission is the emergence of new HIV strains, which come to the UK and put additional pressure on our NHS.”
He added that the UK and other “like-minded countries” needed to step up efforts to put funds towards making amends U.S. cuts arrive global HIV projectinclude Services for LGBT+ and other marginalized communities that America “doesn’t want to fund.”
Public health doctor Beccy Cooper, Labor MP and chair of the All-Party Parliamentary Group on Global Health and Security (APPG), added: “This analysis is a stark reminder that the best value for our public spending is in global health. Delivering on these HIV commitments will have an impact far beyond their modest costs and will help sustain momentum towards ending AIDS by 2030.”
“As a public health professional, I also see the wider benefits. Targeted HIV investment strengthens health systems, allows us to respond to other health issues such as infectious disease outbreaks, supports resilient communities and ultimately makes the UK safer too,” Dr Cooper said.
in a An open letter published earlier this month, independent Joins more than 30 leading charities, advocates and MPs in urging the Prime Minister to protect the UK’s remaining funding for the global HIV response.
In 2024, the global goal of ending the AIDS pandemic by 2030 seemed within sight, but sharp cuts in development aid spending by some rich countries, including the UK, this year have put that progress at risk.
According to the latest United Nations estimates, if previous levels of funding for HIV prevention around the world are not protected, more than 4 million more deaths and infections will occur by 2030.
The UK plans to cut its total foreign aid spending by 40% by 2029 to allocate more money to defence. Combined with devastating cuts in countries like the United States, health systems around the world are in disarray and HIV prevention services are collapsing. About 2.5 million people using pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in 2024 lost access to the drug this year due to donor cuts.
Mike Podmore, chief executive of STOPAIDS, a network of UK agencies working on the global response to HIV/AIDS, said safeguarding these three key funds represented “a fantastic opportunity for the UK government to commit to and invest in hope and the real possibility of ending AIDS within five years”.
“If the UK and other governments around the world choose to make the political and financial commitment required.
“It’s a small cost to keep the world and the UK safe by preventing a resurgence of the AIDS pandemic and putting us on track to end AIDS once and for all”.
This article is part of The Independent Rethinking global aid project