UK Could Own Victory in Ending AIDS Pandemic by 2030

The world is closer than ever to ending the AIDS pandemic, and the UK could be the hero that makes it happen.

After The Independent launched a campaign urging Prime Minister Keir Starmer to protect HIV funding, the government is now considering backing the call. Chief international correspondent Bel Trew told parliament's International Development Committee that this could be a defining success story for Britain.

"We could end the AIDS pandemic by 2030 and the UK could be the owner of that," Trew said. "This is the moment to do that right now."

The stakes couldn't be higher. In 2024, experts believed the goal was achievable, but massive funding cuts have put that dream at risk. The US has slashed aid by shuttering much of its international development agency, and the UK is cutting its own foreign aid by 40 percent over three years.

Without continued support, millions more people could die worldwide. Infections could spike to levels not seen in 25 years, and medication-resistant strains could more than double.

But there's real hope on the horizon. A groundbreaking treatment called lenacapavir, the closest thing we have to an HIV vaccine, has just started rolling out in Sub-Saharan Africa. Trew, who reported from Zimbabwe and Uganda on the impact of aid cuts, believes the UK could make a massive difference by supporting this effort.

"The UK could step in, even with limited resources, in that efficient way," she explained. Britain could fill the gaps left by the US and deliver results the public can see and celebrate.

The Bright Side

Leading organizations are rallying behind this cause. The Elton John AIDS Foundation, the National AIDS Trust, Doctors Without Borders, and the STOPAids coalition have all signed a letter supporting The Independent's campaign. Thousands more people have signed a petition backing the call.

Members of parliament from both major parties praised The Independent's work in bringing attention to this critical issue. Labour MP Sarah Champion, who chairs the committee, called the reporting "really good," while Conservative MP David Mundell congratulated the paper for "highlighting the impact of cuts in relation to support for HIV and AIDS funding."

The government minister responsible for international development hasn't yet committed to protecting the funding, but the pressure is building. With the right decision, the UK could secure a legacy of saving millions of lives and ending one of history's deadliest pandemics.

This is Britain's chance to show global leadership when it matters most.