Dr. Nandakumar Shares How U.S. Isolationism Affects HIV Care in Low and Middle-Income Countries

Photo courtesy of Baylor College of Medicine Children’s Foundation–Malawi / Robbie Flick

As the United States scales back its role as the largest donor to global HIV programs, low- and middle-income countries face an urgent crisis. Cuts to the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and USAID could undo decades of progress in expanding HIV treatment and keeping people healthy. Dr. Allyala K. Nandakumar, director of the Global Social Work & Public Health Lab at the Center for Innovation in Social Work & Health (CISWH) at BU School of Social Work (BUSSW), co-authored an article in Lancet Primary Care warning that cuts to HIV programs could strain health systems unless HIV care becomes part of everyday primary care.  

Excerpt from “US isolationism, HIV, and primary care integration: the inflection point for low-income and middle-income countries is now” by Reuben Granich, Brian Williams, Somya Gupta, Allyala K. Nandakumar and Julio Montaner:  

Cuts in US support are already having consequences, with an anticipated additional 4.43-10.75 million new HIV infections and 0.77-2.93 million HIV related deaths in low and middle-income countries between 2025 and 2030. Gaps in testing and treatment continue to stand in the way of moving HIV care into primary care systems. As HIV programs lose funding, primary care services will need to assume responsibility for millions of people on treatment, while also managing other health needs affected by US cuts. This moment is both a warning and an opportunity to build more resilient health systems for the future. 

Read the full article here.