US aid cuts threaten HIV fight in Tajikistan: UN
DUSHANBE, Tajikistan (MNTV) — The suspension of U.S. foreign assistance is threatening to derail efforts to contain HIV in Tajikistan, according to a United Nations report.
The report, issued by UNAIDS, highlights how the withdrawal of funding from the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID) — once a major contributor to Tajikistan’s national HIV program — has already had a “profound impact” on the country’s capacity to provide treatment and prevention services.
The Trump administration’s decision to cut foreign assistance and dismantle USAID as an independent agency has left critical HIV services underfunded, directly affecting government-run programs and local non-governmental organizations, Eurasianet reports.
Describing the U.S. as a “critical partner,” the UNAIDS report underscores the American role in strengthening laboratory services, promoting best practices in prevention, integrating HIV services with broader healthcare, and collecting vital data for decision-making.
Without U.S. support, people living with HIV in Tajikistan are likely to face serious challenges in accessing antiretroviral therapy (ART), leading to higher viral loads and deteriorating health outcomes, the report warns. Prevention campaigns targeting vulnerable and marginalized groups are also likely to suffer.
Tajikistan relies heavily on foreign aid to sustain its HIV program. External sources fund 61% of the national effort, with the U.S. providing about 20%, second only to the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria, which covers around 40%. Contributions from other international donors remain minimal.
Experts caution that the loss of U.S. funding may lead to a surge in new HIV infections, particularly among labor migrants — a group that has driven steady increases in cases over the past two decades.
“The loss of participation in regional networks will disconnect Tajikistan’s HIV response from global and regional best practices,” the UNAIDS report said, warning of reduced opportunities for knowledge sharing, capacity building, and resource mobilization.
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