By: Asim Nawaz Abbasi
WASHINGTON/GENEVA: Financial leaders are meeting in Washington for the World Bank Spring Meetings and the International Monetary Fund. UNAIDS wants increased and sustainable investments to fight HIV and other health problems.
UNAIDS leader Winnie Byanyima says now, during many crises, it’s crucial to invest more in health. She asks leaders to reject calls for spending cuts and instead, invest in saving lives, especially for women and girls.
Investing in fighting HIV has helped a lot. Since 2010, fewer people are dying from AIDS and fewer are getting HIV. But 9 million people still need HIV medicine, and there were 1.3 million new HIV cases in 2022. We need more money now to treat everyone and stop more infections later.
But there’s not enough money. In 2022, there was $20.8 billion for HIV programs in poor and middle-income countries—less than needed. Many countries spend a lot on paying back debts, leaving less for health and education.
UNAIDS says we need big changes in how we handle money globally. Cancelling debt, making fairer financing, and changing taxes could help get more money for health and end AIDS by 2030.