HIV Cases Rise in Africa Amid Global Funding Cuts

Recent research highlights significant challenges in the fight against HIV in sub-Saharan Africa, exacerbated by global funding cuts including those made by the Trump administration. The discontinuation of PEPFAR funding in 2025 is projected to cause thousands of additional HIV infections over the next five years, threatening progress in prevention and treatment in the region. Adolescents living with HIV face particular vulnerabilities, including poor rates of antiretroviral therapy (ART) adherence and risks of coinfections such as hepatitis B, as studies from Uganda show low prevalence of protective hepatitis B antibodies in this group. A growing cohort of adolescents living with HIV in sub-Saharan Africa struggles with viral suppression and retention in treatment, complicating efforts to meet UNAIDS 95-95-95 targets. Furthermore, new adolescent HIV acquisitions continue at high rates, with social, psychological, and structural factors influencing treatment outcomes. These findings underscore the urgent need for sustained funding, targeted interventions, and comprehensive support to improve HIV outcomes among children and adolescents in the region.