Ethiopia’s fight against HIV/AIDS is facing significant headwinds in 2025 as funding cuts continue to disrupt essential prevention, testing, and treatment services. Although the country has made important gains towards controlling the epidemic, recent financial constraints threaten to undermine progress and jeopardize the health of millions of Ethiopians living with or at risk of HIV.
According to the latest UNAIDS report, Ethiopia continues to grapple with a heavy HIV burden, but has seen steady improvements in treatment coverage and reductions in AIDS-related deaths over the past decade. By the end of 2024, over 75 percent of people living with HIV in Ethiopia were receiving antiretroviral therapy, and efforts were underway to reach global targets of 95 percent diagnosis, treatment, and viral suppression.
However, disruptions in funding from key donors, including PEPFAR and multilateral initiatives, have resulted in declines in testing availability and prevention services in parts of the country. Clinics experienced service interruptions, while funding shortages forced some community organizations to scale back or halt outreach activities critical for vulnerable populations such as adolescent girls, young women, and key populations at high risk.
One area of concern is the reduced availability of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a highly effective HIV prevention tool. Data indicates a notable decrease in the number of individuals accessing PrEP in Ethiopia during 2025, mirroring broader regional trends. This decline places additional strains on efforts to prevent new infections, especially among young women who constitute a disproportionate share of new HIV cases.
Further challenges include reports of increased out-of-pocket costs for services that were previously free, such as post-exposure prophylaxis for survivors of sexual violence. Such financial barriers risk reducing timely access to essential interventions and exacerbate health inequities.
Despite these setbacks, Ethiopian health authorities and their partners remain committed to maintaining treatment programs and revitalizing prevention efforts. Recent initiatives include integrating innovative digital health platforms to improve monitoring, expanding community-led support models, and strengthening the country’s health workforce capacity.
Ethiopia’s Ministry of Health continues to collaborate closely with international agencies, civil society, and community groups to navigate the funding environment and prioritize high-impact interventions. The government is also fostering local ownership through increased domestic financing for HIV response programs, which is crucial for long-term sustainability.
The UNAIDS report underscores that Ethiopia’s HIV response cannot be decoupled from broader socio-economic factors such as gender inequality, stigma, and poverty. Efforts to address these underlying determinants—through comprehensive education, empowerment, and social protection—are essential components of concerted strategies to end AIDS.
As World AIDS Day 2025 draws attention to the global fight against HIV, Ethiopia faces both the urgency of ongoing challenges and the promise of continuing progress. Strengthening international solidarity, ensuring sustainable funding, and empowering affected communities are pivotal to safeguarding gains and advancing toward the goal of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
