A coalition of community networks and civil society organizations in Nigeria has expressed deep concern over the proposed closure of UNAIDS.

They warned that such a move could have devastating consequences for the global HIV response.

In a statement issued on Sunday in Abuja, the coalition said that shutting down UNAIDS would undermine decades of progress in the fight against HIV and AIDS, potentially putting millions of lives at risk.

The statement was jointly signed by key organizations including the Network of People Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (NEPWHAN) and the Nigeria Key Population Health and Rights Network (NKPHRN).

It also included the International Community of Women Living with HIV ? West Africa (ICW-WA) as a co-signatory, reaffirming regional solidarity in the fight against HIV and support for UNAIDS? continued existence.

Others include the Association of Women Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (ASWHAN), the Association of Positive Youth Living with HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (APYIN), and the Civil Society Network for HIV and AIDS in Nigeria (CiSHAN).

?We express our profound alarm and deep concern about the recommendation contained in the UN80 Initiative to ?sunset UNAIDS by the end of 2026? as part of a broader restructuring of the United Nations system.

?We view the attempt to dismantle the UN agency dedicated to the global HIV/AIDS response as ill-timed and a setback that signals a profound departure from the UN?s commitment to millions of lives worldwide,? the statement read.

The coalition acknowledged that while global efforts had significantly reduced new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths, progress remained uneven, particularly in low- and middle-income countries.

They described the proposal as dangerously shortsighted, saying it betrayed communities living with and affected by HIV.

?UNAIDS has been advancing a transition path that prioritizes inclusive, multi-sectoral, and sustainable national HIV responses, led by governments and communities, and funded largely through domestic resources.

?AIDS is not over. In fact, recent disruptions to the global AIDS response make deliberate and coordinated efforts more urgent if the world is to meet the SDG target of ending AIDS by 2030.?

They warned that dismantling UNAIDS now could reverse hard-won gains, erode donor confidence, and send a damaging message to vulnerable populations still battling the epidemic.

?To contemplate dismantling UNAIDS is to betray the very people it was created to serve, especially women, young people living with HIV, and key populations who rely on its leadership, advocacy, and convening power.?

The coalition called on the UN Secretary-General and Member States to reject the proposal to sunset UNAIDS, to strengthen its mandate, and to protect the integrity of the UN80 reform process without compromising the global HIV response.

?We urge the Secretary-General to intervene decisively to halt the confusion and uncertainty this proposal has created among stakeholders, particularly communities, civil society, and donors.

?The way forward must reaffirm UNAIDS? role and accelerate efforts to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.?

The coalition ended by reaffirming its commitment to collaborate with the UN and Member States to protect UNAIDS? legacy and ensured that no one was left behind. (NAN)

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