UNAIDS: 'Science Is Not the Problem' – Political Choices Threaten HIV Progress

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil – The global fight against HIV has reached a critical turning point. Health leaders warn that decades of progress are now in danger because international funding is shrinking and prevention programs are being cut in the countries that need them most. UNAIDS officials say the science to stop the virus already exists. The real threat, they argue, comes from political decisions. “Science is not the problem,” a UNAIDS representative stated. The challenge is a lack of political will and resources. Many of the world’s hardest-hit countries are scaling back their HIV prevention efforts. At the same time, donor nations are reducing their financial support. This combination puts millions of people at risk. The warning comes as health experts meet to discuss the future of the HIV response. Without urgent action, they fear the gains made over the last 20 years could be reversed.