Once seen as one of the most successful programs by the United States, decades of progress in combating HIV/AIDS is now in jeopardy. On June 11 the United Nations issued a report warning that the global effort to eliminate HIV/AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 is now in retreat. A disease once considered a death sentence is now treatable, offering a normal life expectancy to those infected—but nearly 9 million people are not receiving this simple medication.
Much of the blame is placed on the chaotic and confusing string of cuts, pauses, reversals, and disruptions to U.S. aid, but perhaps worst is the U.S. disengagement and lack of leadership. The U.S. has withdrawn from the World Health Organization (WHO) and 66 international organizations, including 31 UN bodies. Unfortunately as the U.S. took less responsibility on the AIDS front, this triggered the perfect storm of other countries such as Germany, France, Japan, and the UK all following the U.S. backsliding.
