MEDIA ADVISORY
Launch of UNAIDS Global AIDS Update 2025
Pretoria, South Africa – New HIV infections in sub-Saharan Africa have been reduced by 56% and with the largest antiretroviral roll-out programme in the world, South Africa has contributed to the 54% decline in HIV-related deaths since 2010. These are some of the key findings highlighted in the 2025 UNAIDS Global AIDS Update Report.
However, this phenomenal progress risks being reversed. Sudden, drastic cuts from a number of donors have sent shockwaves through global health. UNAIDS’ new report titled: AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform, shows the impact these cuts are having globally.
UNAIDS estimates that if the world does not act, there could be an additional 6 million new HIV infections and 4 million AIDS-related deaths by 2029. The report highlights the measures some countries are taking to fill the gaps and sustain the response into the future. However, for many, that future remains uncertain.
The HIV response was forged in crisis–and was built to be resilient. Communities, governments, and the United Nations are all transforming to meet this moment and deliver on the promise of ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
Members of the media are invited to the launch as follows:
WHAT: Launch of UNAIDS Global AIDS Update – AIDS, Crisis and the Power to Transform in partnership with the South African National AIDS Council (SANAC)
WHEN: Thursday, 10 July 2025
TIME: 11:30-12:30 Central African Time and CET / 09:30-10:30 GMT
WHERE: Bertha Gxowa Hospital, Angus St, Germiston, Johannesburg, South Africa
SPEAKERS:
▪ Ms Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS and Under-SecretaryGeneral of the United Nations
▪ Dr Aaron Motsoaledi, Hon Minister of Health of South Africa
▪ Prof Helen Rees, Executive Director, Wits RHI
▪ Reverend Mbulelo Dyasi, Executive Director of SANARELA (South African
Network of Religious Leaders Living with or Personally Affected by HIV & AIDS)
For access to the livestream, embargoed report or interviews please contact:
Zeenat Abdool, UNAIDS Communication and Advocacy Officer for South Africa, abdoolz@unaids.org, +27827788080
Nelson Dlamini, SANAC Office of the CEO, Nelson@sanac.org.za, +27787310313