Decreasing global funding, climate change, conflict, and drug resistance are reversing years of advancement. HIV prevention is obstructed by increasing criminalization and assaults on key populations, with 1.3 million new infections in 2024 — exceeding targets. TB remains the leading infectious killer, exacerbated by growing multidrug resistance, including in Europe. Malaria faces increasing resistance to insecticides and drugs, alongside extreme weather effects. Without urgent action and ongoing investment, these threats could trigger a perilous return of all three diseases.
The stakes could not be higher
The Global Fund’s latest findings show remarkable progress. In 2024 alone:
- 25.6 million people received lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, yet 630,000 still died of AIDS-related causes;
- 7.4 million people were treated for TB, with innovations like AI-powered diagnostics reaching frontline workers in Ukraine; and
- malaria deaths, primarily among African children under five, have been halved over two decades, with 2.2 billion mosquito nets distributed and ten countries eliminating malaria since 2020. Yet one child still dies every minute from this treatable disease.
This moment is unprecedented not just because of the challenge’s magnitude but also the opportunity’s scale. Thanks to extraordinary scientific breakthroughs, we now have the tools to turn the tide:
- lenacapavir, a long-acting antiretroviral, offers new hope for the possibility of HIV-free generations;
- dual active ingredient mosquito nets combine physical protection with intelligent vector control, transforming malaria prevention; and
- AI-driven TB screening and diagnostics are revolutionizing early detection and treatment, even in the most fragile settings.
Some breakthroughs highlight Europe’s ongoing research and development and the private sector’s leadership in global health. BASF’s dual-active-ingredient mosquito nets, recently distributed by the millions in Nigeria, redefine malaria prevention by combining physical protection with intelligent vector control. Delft Imaging’s ultra-portable digital X-ray devices enable TB screening in remote and fragile settings, while Siemens Healthineers supports the deployment of advanced AI software for TB triage and diagnosis.
However, these must be deployed widely and equitably to reach those who need them most. That is precisely what the Global Fund facilitates: equitable access to cutting-edge solutions, delivered through community-led systems that reach those most often left behind.
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