World AIDS Day is observed on December 1 and was established by the World Health Organization (WHO) in 1988 to facilitate the exchange of information among national and local governments, international organizations, and individuals. World Aids Day is aimed at raising awareness of AIDS and the spread of HIV.
In 2024, an estimated 40.8 million people were living with HIV globally. Also, approximately 630,000 people died from HIV‑related causes in 2024. In Nigeria today, 1.9 million people are living with AIDS, predominantly among people aged 15-49.
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The official theme for World AIDS Day 2025 is “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response.” It emphasizes the urgent need to address funding cuts, service interruptions, and systemic challenges while accelerating progress toward ending AIDS as a public health threat.
Challenges faced in the fight against AIDS
The challenges faced in the fight for AIDS include, but aren’t limited to:
Funding Crisis: In recent times, International assistance for HIV has sharply declined, with OECD(Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development) projections showing external health funding could fall by 30–40% in 2025 compared with 2023. This means donor countries and international agencies are reducing their contributions, largely due to competing global crises (wars, climate change, and economic downturns). Countries like Nigeria face reduced supplies of condoms and testing kits due to donor withdrawal.
Disruptions in the treatment of AIDS services: Preventive medication distribution has dropped dramatically in some regions. For instance, there is a 64% decline in Burundi. Also, there have been reported cases of Stock-outs of HIV test kits in places like the Democratic Republic of Congo and Ethiopia. Note that interruptions in ART (antiretroviral therapy) services risk viral rebound and increased transmission, which undermines the effect of the previous doses of ART.
Human Rights challenges and Stigmatization of PLWAIDS (people living with AIDS): UNAIDS warns of a growing human rights crisis, with punitive laws and discrimination ultimately leading to a blockage of access to care. Stigma also discourages testing, treatment adherence, and disclosure, especially among marginalized groups (sex workers, LGBTQ+ communities, migrants).
Conflict and Instability: Wars and political instability disrupt health systems, making HIV services inaccessible. Also, Refugees and displaced populations often lack continuity of care.
Community-Led Responses under Threat: Funding cuts or shortages weaken grassroots organizations that provide essential services, including testing, counseling, and advocacy. These groups are vital in reaching vulnerable populations, yet they are often the first to lose support. And last but not least,
Scientific and Logistical Barriers: Despite progress, a cure remains elusive due to HIV’s ability to hide in viral reservoirs. New therapies (gene editing, long-acting injectables) are promising but expensive and inaccessible in many low-income countries.
Call to Action
The fight against AIDS has reached a critical crossroads. With 40.8 million people living with HIV worldwide and 1.9 million in Nigeria alone, the disruptions of funding cuts, service breakdowns, stigma, and instability threaten to undo decades of progress. Yet the theme of World AIDS Day 2025, “Overcoming disruption, transforming the AIDS response,” reminds us that setbacks are not the end of the story; they are a call to action.
Governments must expand domestic investment, donors must renew their commitments, and communities must be empowered to lead. Research breakthroughs from gene editing to long-acting therapies must be made accessible to all, not just the privileged few.
Enough is enough: the world cannot afford complacency. To end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, we must act with urgency, solidarity, and innovation. The time to transform the response is now!
