New prevention tools and smart investments in AIDS services driving hope for an HIV-free future

DCM Editorial Summary: This story has been independently rewritten and summarised for DCM readers to highlight key developments relevant to the region. Original reporting by WHO, click this post to read the original article.

On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) is urging governments and partners to broaden access to new HIV prevention tools like lenacapavir (LEN), a recently approved, long-acting injectable medication. Despite disruptions caused by major cuts in foreign aid, momentum has grown in 2025 thanks to LEN, which needs only biannual dosing and helps those who struggle with daily pills or face stigma in healthcare access. As of July, WHO guidelines recommend LEN as an additional pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) option to prevent HIV.

You may have seen that international funding reductions have severely disrupted HIV services, leading to the closure of community-led initiatives such as PrEP programs and harm reduction services. Vulnerable groups like sex workers, men who have sex with men, transgender women, and people who inject drugs are especially affected. These populations face dramatically higher risks—up to 34 times greater—of contracting HIV due to barriers like stigma and legal restrictions, contributing to the 1.3 million new infections in 2024 alone. Out of all new infections, nearly half occurred within these key populations and their partners.

In response, WHO encourages a two-sided strategy: reinforcing solidarity and investing in innovative tools targeted at high-risk communities. The organization stresses the critical opportunity for change with the availability of LEN, particularly in light of the estimated 2.5 million people who lost access to PrEP this year. Officials warn that without an urgent, inclusive approach, global efforts to end AIDS by 2030 are in jeopardy.

Now, some countries like South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Zambia have approved LEN for use, facilitated by WHO’s Collaborative Registration Procedure. Alongside global organizations such as the Gates Foundation and the Global Fund, WHO is working to make these treatments more affordable and widely available. You are encouraged to support this expansion to reach those most in need and protect decades of progress in the fight against AIDS.

Ultimately, ending the AIDS epidemic depends on integrating HIV services into everyday healthcare systems. WHO insists that by empowering communities, breaking down structural barriers, and protecting human rights, you and your country can lead a comprehensive, inclusive, and sustainable response that leaves no one behind.