"A Light for Solidarity: Why We Must Keep Fighting HIV Together"

Every year on Candlelight Memorial Day, millions around the world light a flame—not just in remembrance of those 40 million lives lost to AIDS, but as a celebration of humanity, compassion, and hope for a future free from AIDS. Today, we stand at a crossroads: progress in the fight against HIV is real, but fragile. Global solidarity and sustained funding are not just moral imperatives, they are the only way we will end this epidemic for good. Every dollar cut from HIV programs represents a preventable infection, a life lost, a setback in the fragile progress the world has made.

Progress Under Threat

Decades of scientific breakthroughs, community activism, and international cooperation have transformed HIV from a death sentence into a manageable condition for many. New infections have dropped by 38% since 2010, and 30 million people now access life-saving treatment. But these gains are uneven. In 2023, 1.3 million people were newly infected, and 630,000 died from AIDS-related illnesses—most in marginalized communities where stigma, poverty, and underfunded health systems persist. 

Today, Tajikistan’s HIV response demonstrates the power of global solidarity and smart investments. HIV-related mortality has halved since 2020, and mother-to-child transmission plummeted from 2.6% in 2018 to just 0.8% in 2024—with only one reported case this year. 

Thanks to partnerships with the U.S. President's Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR), the Global Fund, and UNAIDS, treatment costs have dropped 250-fold to under $65 per person annually, while blood transfusion safety has remained flawless for 22 years.

But these gains, while significant, remain fragile. While 37% of Tajikistan’s HIV program budget now comes from domestic sources—including full national funding for PMTCT services—60% still relies on external donors. Any retreat in support would be catastrophic. even modest funding cuts of 10–20% could trigger a 135% spike in new cases and a 4.8% rise in deaths, erasing years of progress. Funding instability threatens to roll back progress, risking disruptions to prevention, treatment, and care. This situation can get even worse, given the persistent, deep-rooted stigma, discrimination, and criminalization of HIV transmission and exposure, which violate human rights and undermine public health efforts. Women and children are often disproportionately affected by these challenges.

Tajikistan’s roadmap proves that ending AIDS is possible, but only if the world keeps its promises. Without sustained external and domestic investments and commitment, the country's hard-won progress could undo years of lifesaving work and the progress attained so far.

Solidarity in Action

The HIV response has always been a testament to what humanity can achieve when we unite. From activists demanding treatment access to governments and donors supporting the Global Fund and PEPFAR, collective action has saved lives. But solidarity cannot waver now. The global HIV response, including national progress— is threatened just as we near the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a public threat. 

A Call to Light the Way

This Candlelight Memorial Day let us honor the past by securing the future. Today, the United Nations is calling on all stakeholders to reaffirm their commitments. Governments must renew commitments to global health funding. Philanthropists and the private sector must step up. And every citizen can advocate, donate, or simply remember: the end of AIDS is possible, but only if we keep the flame of solidarity burning. 

That goal remains within reach. But it demands continued political leadership and robust, sustained investment. We must scale up proven strategies: community-led services, harm reduction, strengthen pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), and universal access to treatment. We must invest in innovation, in equity, and in health systems that are resilient and inclusive.

Let’s ensure our success drives us collectively to a world free from HIV, for everyone, everywhere!