Brazilian HIV Advocates Foresee USAID Funding Cuts, Stress Need for Health System Independence
At the Aids 2026 conference, Brazilian HIV advocates expressed that they had anticipated the reduction in USAID funding for HIV programs. Juliana Cesar, a political liaison coordinator at the Brazilian NGO Gestos, highlighted that Brazil's health system operates independently from foreign aid, allowing it to maintain robust HIV prevention and treatment programs. This independence has enabled Brazil to achieve significant milestones, such as eliminating HIV transmission to newborns. However, the reduction in foreign aid poses challenges, particularly in accessing the latest HIV treatments due to ongoing negotiations with pharmaceutical companies. 
