MONICA KAYOMBO, Zambia and Rio De Janeiro, Brazil
HIV experts have warned that the world risks reversing decades of progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS unless governments and global partners sustain investments in prevention, treatment and research despite growing financial constraints.
Speaking on the sidelines of the 26th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2026) in Rio de Janeiro, Zambia’s Professor Lloyd Mulenga and International AIDS Society (IAS) President Professor Beatriz Grinsztejn emphasized that ending AIDS as a public health threat will require countries to strengthen both treatment and prevention while protecting research and ensuring equitable access to lifesaving innovations.
Professor Mulenga, who is also in charge of infectious Diseases and Research at the University Teaching Hospital (UTH) said Zambia has made significant progress in expanding access to HIV treatment, but cautioned that prevention efforts must receive equal attention if the country is to reduce new infections.
He noted that while antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV into a manageable chronic condition for millions of people, new infections remain a concern, particularly among young people and adolescent girls.
Professor Grinsztejn echoed these concerns, saying the global HIV response must continue to prioritize treatment and prevention simultaneously.
“We do understand that there are huge priorities that need to be accomplished. The major priorities are keeping people on treatment, keeping people linked to care, and keeping people receiving HIV prevention services wherever they are, whoever they are,” she said.
She explained that the International AIDS Society continues to work towards improving access to HIV services globally and is using the conference as a platform to stimulate discussions on the future of the HIV response.
Responding to concerns raised by journalists, including a question from Zambia on balancing prevention and treatment, Professor Grinsztejn agreed that countries should avoid focusing on treatment alone at the expense of prevention, stressing that both interventions are essential to ending the epidemic.
The IAS President also voiced concern over shrinking international funding for HIV programmes, warning that the reductions are coming at a time when groundbreaking prevention tools such as long-acting injectable medicines are becoming available.
“It is really very sad that while we have major achievements in prevention, including long-acting cabotegravir and long-acting lenacapavir, we are facing major funding cuts that are deeply affecting the delivery of these new prevention technologies,” she said.
According to Professor Grinsztejn, the funding cuts are affecting not only access to innovative prevention products but also treatment programmes and HIV care services in many countries.
She further warned that the possible weakening or loss of UNAIDS would have serious consequences for the global HIV response.
“We do need UNAIDS to stay in place. We can’t have UNAIDS disappearing. We already have a big issue that most of the systems are not in place anymore for us to understand the numbers of infections, the numbers of deaths, the number of people on treatment and on prevention. To lose UNAIDS at this moment will be a really big loss,” she said.
Professor Mulenga also underscored the importance of sustained international cooperation and domestic investment to safeguard the gains made over the past decades, saying countries should continue investing in evidence-based interventions that reach populations most at risk.
Professor Grinsztejn said maintaining HIV research infrastructure is equally important because scientific discoveries continue to shape the future of prevention and treatment.
“Without research, nothing will come for the future. It is critical for us in low- and middle-income countries to maintain our research infrastructure,” she said, noting that research platforms established for HIV played a vital role in the global response to COVID-19.
She expressed concern that the world is drifting off course in achieving the global goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
“If we go at the pace that we are, I really don’t see that we will get there. The data about children is really scary,” she said.
Professor Grinsztejn also highlighted stigma and discrimination as major barriers to accessing HIV services, particularly among key populations, saying the conference provides an opportunity for scientists, policymakers, civil society and affected communities to identify practical solutions.
Despite the challenges, she remained optimistic that AIDS 2026 would strengthen global collaboration and inspire renewed political commitment to protect the gains made in the HIV response.
The conference has attracted about 7,000 delegates from across the world, bringing together researchers, policymakers, health professionals, civil society organizations and people living with HIV to discuss scientific advances and strategies for sustaining progress towards ending the epidemic.
This year’s Aids conference is under the theme: Rethink, Rebuild, Rise.
Dr Beatriz Grinsztejn during the pre Conference press briefing. Picture courtesy of AIS
Some protestors at the Aids conference in Rio. Pictures: courtesy of AIS
