19 February 2025
19 February 202519 February 2025The U.S. decision in January to freeze all funding for U.S.
The U.S. decision in January to freeze all funding for U.S. foreign assistance, including for the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), has had a critical impact on several countries in Latin America and the Caribbean, exacerbating existing challenges in the HIV response. More than 20 countries in the region rely on these funds to deliver HIV treatment, prevention, and care services, including community-led services focused on the most discriminated and marginalized communities.
Following the decision to freeze all U.S. funding for foreign assistance, the U.S. Government issued a waiver allowing some funding to support lifesaving services. However, confusion about which services may be supported and a lack of support for some services means the situation remains critical, posing a serious risk of setbacks in the AIDS response in the region. While some key treatment services and prevention of vertical transmission have been gradually coming back into operation, most countries have been facing disruptions in their HIV treatment programs.