Through the HIV epidemic the world has seen the worst and the best of human nature - from fear, inequality and exclusion, to hope, determination and love. Use this timeline to explore how different people have been affected by HIV over the past four decades. Read, see, and hear how things have changed around the world.
The HIV epidemic began with fear, helplessness and death as the world faced a new virus that preyed on misunderstanding and marginalisation.
Scientific advances have enabled people with access to treatment to live long and healthy lives with HIV. However, inequalities around the world continue to make it a challenge for many to access the tools and information to prevent HIV and the support and treatment to live healthily.
For most there is a lot to celebrate today. Alongside the worst of human nature we have also seen the best, with a uniquely strong global response to beat HIV. But in most places HIV is still shrouded in stigma and discrimination, and a cure for HIV remains stubbornly out of reach.
Silent epidemic
Before HIV became well known, it had quietly made its way across several continents, becoming epidemic in many places by the late 1970s.
Understanding and learning
The early 1980s marked the beginning of the HIV epidemic as we know it today.
Activism
As HIV spread, activism by affected communities grew louder and activists began winning battles for treatment and rights.
LONG Silent epidemic - includes a longer title that the others
Before HIV became well known, it had quietly made its way across several continents, becoming epidemic in many places by the late 1970s. And it had more text in the main body copy as well.
Activism
As HIV spread, activism by affected communities grew louder and activists began winning battles for treatment and rights.
Understanding and learning
The early 1980s marked the beginning of the HIV epidemic as we know it today.
2024: The rise of PrEP continues
2024 sees PrEP being trialled, approved and rolled out in more versions than ever before. Zambia becomes the first country in Africa to offer bi-monthly injectable PrEP (long-acting cabotegravir or CAB-LA) outside of clinical trials. Other options being researched and trialled include six-monthly injectable PrEP, a combined PrEP and contraception injection, and a PrEP implant. After criticisms over pricing and access, ViiV Healthcare commits to providing at least 2 million doses of injectable PrEP to low- and middle-income countries in 2025 and 2026. A one-month PrEP vaginal ring is now approved for use in at least eight African countries.
2025: 90% US aid cuts put millions at risk
On its first day in office, the new Republican US administration announces a 90-day review of USAID’s work, but also orders all existing USAID programmes and implementers to stop work immediately, and fires most USAID staff. USAID funding is cut by 90% and lack of clarity and communication leaves implementing organisations paralysed. Many countries, particularly in Africa, whose health systems and HIV programmes have become dependent on USAID face immediate crises with no time to plan or mitigate and insufficient domestic funds to fill the gaps in the short or even medium term. Hundreds of NGOs providing HIV treatment and prevention services close down. Some countries bring in charges for drugs which ordinary people are simply unable to afford. The US administration also ends its funding for the UN’s HIV coordinating body UNAIDS.
New determination critical as countries diverge
While nine countries reach the 95-95-95 testing and treatment targets, including Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, many countries are falling behind, and a number of regions are now critically off track. This includes Eastern Europe and Central Asia where HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are rising with only half of people with HIV accessing treatment. UNAIDS warns that the world is facing a ‘critical moment’ if the world is to end AIDS by 2030.
2024: The rise of PrEP continues
2024 sees PrEP being trialled, approved and rolled out in more versions than ever before. Zambia becomes the first country in Africa to offer bi-monthly injectable PrEP (long-acting cabotegravir or CAB-LA) outside of clinical trials. Other options being researched and trialled include six-monthly injectable PrEP, a combined PrEP and contraception injection, and a PrEP implant. After criticisms over pricing and access, ViiV Healthcare commits to providing at least 2 million doses of injectable PrEP to low- and middle-income countries in 2025 and 2026. A one-month PrEP vaginal ring is now approved for use in at least eight African countries.
2025: 90% US aid cuts put millions at risk
On its first day in office, the new Republican US administration announces a 90-day review of USAID’s work, but also orders all existing USAID programmes and implementers to stop work immediately, and fires most USAID staff. USAID funding is cut by 90% and lack of clarity and communication leaves implementing organisations paralysed. Many countries, particularly in Africa, whose health systems and HIV programmes have become dependent on USAID face immediate crises with no time to plan or mitigate and insufficient domestic funds to fill the gaps in the short or even medium term. Hundreds of NGOs providing HIV treatment and prevention services close down. Some countries bring in charges for drugs which ordinary people are simply unable to afford. The US administration also ends its funding for the UN’s HIV coordinating body UNAIDS.
New determination critical as countries diverge
While nine countries reach the 95-95-95 testing and treatment targets, including Eswatini, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Zambia and Zimbabwe, many countries are falling behind, and a number of regions are now critically off track. This includes Eastern Europe and Central Asia where HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are rising with only half of people with HIV accessing treatment. UNAIDS warns that the world is facing a ‘critical moment’ if the world is to end AIDS by 2030.
Ideology drives inhumane US policy implementation as USAID funding is cut by around 90% at a stroke, with catastrophic impacts on HIV and health services, particularly in Africa.
On its first day in office, the new Republican US administration announces a 90-day review of USAID’s work, but also orders all existing USAID programmes and implementers to stop work immediately, and fires most USAID staff. USAID funding is cut by 90% and lack of clarity and communication leaves implementing organisations paralysed. Many countries, particularly in Africa, whose health systems and HIV programmes have become dependent on USAID face immediate crises with no time to plan or mitigate and insufficient domestic funds to fill the gaps in the short or even medium term. Hundreds of NGOs providing HIV treatment and prevention services close down. Some countries bring in charges for drugs which ordinary people are simply unable to afford. The US administration also ends its funding for the UN’s HIV coordinating body [UNAIDS](https://www.unaids.org/en).
