WHO reports 1.2M new HIV infections globally in 2025, Africa bears 64% burden
WHO's July 2026 report shows 1.2 million people acquired HIV globally in 2025, bringing total people living with HIV to 41 million. 64% of cases are in the WHO African Region, confirming Africa as the epidemic's epicenter. While new infections fell 42% since 2010 (halfway to the 90% reduction target by 2030), AIDS-related deaths declined 57% to 570,000 in 2025—still far from the 130,000 target by 2030. Progress continues on 95-95-95 goals: 88% know their status, 89% of diagnosed receive treatment, and 95% of those on treatment are virally suppressed. However, 9 million people (22% of all living with HIV) remain untreated, risking illness and transmission. The report warns that declining international donor funding—like USAID's 2025 personnel suspension disrupting programs in 50 countries—threatens these gains. For Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation with high HIV burden, this means sustaining progress may depend on increased domestic funding for prevention, testing, and treatment as external support wavers.
With foreign aid uncertain, will Nigeria boost domestic HIV funding to protect hard-won progress and close the treatment gap for millions still untreated?