Prince Harry has issued a stark warning about the devastating impact of funding reductions threatening to undo decades of HIV/AIDS progress at the United Nations General Assembly.
The Duke of Sussex appeared in a new film alongside other prominent advocates to sound the alarm on the crisis.
The film, created by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Ron Nyswaner, brings together influential voices to demand that governments restore critical financial support for AIDS programmes.
In the clip shared on the UNAIDS website, Prince Harry delivered a sobering message about the human cost of financial cuts.
Prince Harry appeared in a video raising awareness about reduced funding threatening to undo decades of HIV/AIDS progress
|
UNAIDS
“Right now, babies are being born with HIV due to interruptions in antiretroviral treatment for their mothers,” he began.
“Without urgent action to reverse these crippling funding cuts, 6 million more people will become infected with HIV while 4 million will die from AIDS-related causes within the next four years,” he warned.
The Duke emphasised the broader implications: “It is not just the at-risk communities that will be affected.
“We’ve proven that sustained investment saves lives and builds stronger communities.
The Duke of Sussex warned funding cuts would be a ‘devastating betrayal’
|
UNAIDS
“Abandoning this life-saving work now would be a devastating betrayal of progress for the millions who depend on these essential services,” Harry stressed.
The Duke was joined in the new film by Oscar-winning actress Charlize Theron and basketball icon Magic Johnson.
Ms Theron, who established the Charlize Theron Africa Outreach Project to combat inequalities affecting young women, declared: “The end of AIDS is not a distant dream – it is within our grasp, built on decades of relentless activism, advocacy, and shared commitment.
“From groundbreaking treatments to global solidarity, we’ve built a path to epidemic control,” she celebrated.
Actress Charlize Theron also featured in the video on UNAIDS website
|
UNAIDS
“Now, as world leaders gather at the United Nations General Assembly, we have the power to finish what we’ve started.
“The time to end AIDS is now, and we must have the courage to see it through,” the actress declared.
Magic Johnson, who has publicly lived with HIV for many years while combating stigma around the disease, joined as Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of Magic Johnson Enterprises.
South African actress Thuso Mbedu, who collaborates with UNAIDS and the Elton John AIDS Foundation, also stressed the importance of collective responsibility.
Basketball legend Magic Johnson delivered his own personal message in the clip
|
UNAIDS
“Ending AIDS requires collective action and support of humanity to ensure that no one who needs the lifesaving antiretroviral treatment in Uganda or Mozambique is left behind.
“World leaders must continue to invest in the global HIV response to save lives,” she said.
Severe budget cuts have already created shortages of essential healthcare workers and data collection staff in nations with significant HIV burdens, including South Africa, Mozambique and Eswatini.
The film spotlights revolutionary medical advances, including lenacapavir, a breakthrough medication offering nearly complete protection against HIV through biannual injections.
This innovation could transform prevention efforts if made universally accessible and affordable.
The production emphasises that achieving the 2030 target for ending AIDS demands unified international commitment, as no nation can accomplish this goal independently.