After more than two decades of progress, a future free of AIDS is within reach. Efforts by communities, governments, civil society, the private sector and global health partners have resulted in extraordinary progress in the fight against HIV. Between 2002 and 2024, the AIDS-related mortality rate fell by 82% and the HIV incidence rate declined by 73% in countries where the Global Fund invests.
But a future free of AIDS is in jeopardy. Decreasing international funding and intersecting crises pose a serious threat to hard-won progress. Disruptions in prevention, testing and treatment programs risk creating conditions for HIV to spread rapidly once more, reversing gains and driving up infections and deaths. A resurgence would heavily impact communities and economies, undermine global health security and jeopardize countries’ ability to be self-reliant in managing and funding their health programs.
Global progress hinges on the continued leadership of governments, civil society and the private sector, bold investment and full use of the latest innovations, and a shared commitment to ending AIDS and building a healthier future for all.
Eswatini: The Small Kingdom Setting A Big Example On HIV Prevention
When I walked into Eswatini’s Central Medical Stores that morning, the first thing I saw were the boxes. They were stacked neatly in tall, orderly columns on pallet racks in the middle of the warehouse — plain cardboard, carefully labelled, indistinguishable from any other medical shipment. Warehouse staff moved around them with quiet purpose, entering data, conducting routine checks, doing the work that keeps a health system running. Nothing suggested these boxes held something historic and that they were the first of their kind in Africa.
Dr. Bintou and Fanta: United Across Generations to End AIDS in Mali
Founded in 1996, CESAC was the very first HIV clinic in Mali — established by a group of young doctors with few resources, but an unshakable commitment to caring for people living with HIV and AIDS. One of those doctors is Dr. Bintou Dembele.
Namibia: Transforming the HIV Response for Young People
In Namibia, young women remain disproportionately affected by HIV, facing higher risks due to social and economic vulnerabilities, limited access to services and gender-based violence. The Global Fund and partners support a comprehensive, youth-focused response that is helping close critical gaps in HIV prevention and care.
The “Pink Girls” of Zambia: Breaking Down HIV Silence and Stigma
At a community hall in the Chilenje neighborhood of Lusaka, Zambia, the sound of singing rises above the noise of the bustling city. A group of young women sit in a circle. They call themselves the “Pink Girls” — a sisterhood of strength, resilience and healing.
The First Generation Without AIDS Is Within Reach If We Refuse to Settle
We stand at the edge of an extraordinary possibility: to end the AIDS pandemic, eliminating HIV as a public health threat. Over the last few decades, more than 40 million people have died of AIDS and there are another 39 million people living with HIV. But now we could see the first generation of children growing up free of the threat of being infected with HIV. This would be a historic achievement.
Patterns of Past, Present, Promise
I was 18 when I was diagnosed with HIV. The months leading up to my diagnosis were filled with fear and confusion. I wanted to donate blood, to do something good – but what followed was a series of healthcare missteps and poor communication. Eventually I received the news I’d been so afraid of – I was HIV positive.
Patterns of Past, Present, Promise: A Ritual of Resilience
Sibulele Sibaca Nomnganga’s story is one of loss, love and lasting hope. Orphaned by AIDS, she became a caregiver as a child – and a fighter for change as an adult. Inspired by her resilience, Sibu’s story was brought to life as a pattern by artist Mbhali Manzini. Sibu calls on the world for renewed commitment to finally defeat HIV. We are so close, we cannot stop now.