Islamabad/New Delhi, Jan 6 (NationPress) The recent reduction in funding from the global HIV fund is having a significant impact on HIV prevention and support initiatives in Pakistan, potentially reversing years of progress, as highlighted by a media report.

While the HIV epidemic in Pakistan is relatively small in comparison to global hotspots, it is among the fastest-growing epidemics in Asia. The funding cuts are expected to have a profound effect on the country, according to Arab News.

For nearly twenty years, the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria (GFFATM) has been a crucial supporter of Pakistan's HIV programs.

The organization has decreased its total allocation to Pakistan from $250.8 million to $223.6 million under its Grant Cycle 7 (2023-2025), resulting in a $4 million reduction from the national HIV/AIDS budget.

According to the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), which has been the principal recipient of Global Fund financing since 2021, “The funding squeeze has already started to impact outreach services for key populations.”

“Community-based organizations that focus on outreach to crucial population groups are feeling the effects of these cuts,” remarked Richard Cunliffe, GFFATM project manager at UNDP Pakistan, in an interview with Arab News.

The UNAIDS report indicates that low testing rates and the concentration of infections within marginalized communities are contributing to a rise in new HIV cases in Pakistan. Therefore, sustained funding for prevention and outreach is critical to averting a broader public health crisis.

Estimates from the Joint United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) suggest that approximately 350,000 individuals are living with HIV in Pakistan. However, only 21 percent of these individuals are aware of their status, and merely 15 percent of those diagnosed are receiving treatment.

The scenario may be more precarious than the official figures indicate.

“When funding cuts occur globally, treatment often takes precedence. However, testing, counseling, prevention, and community services are typically the first to be impacted,” stated Asghar Satti, national coordinator of the Association of People Living with HIV (APLHIV).

“The decline in testing leads to more undiagnosed infections,” Satti explained, presenting a serious public health risk.

Stigma and the lack of consistent public awareness campaigns further complicate the situation.

“HIV and those living with HIV face significant stigma and vulnerability,” Cunliffe noted.

“This disease predominantly affects key population groups that are often stigmatized and criminalized,” he added.