LOS ANGELES (AFP) — In honour of World AIDS Day 2025, AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF) will hold major commemorative concerts and events in early December across Africa, Asia, Europe, and the Americas to emphasise that the work to end HIV/AIDS is far from over — underscored by the 1.3 million new infections that still occur globally each year.

AHF observes World AIDS Day 2025 around the globe, celebrating progress, honouring lives lost and those carrying on the fight, and underscoring a vital message – HIV/AIDS is not over.

This year’s commemoration also coincides with a historic milestone for AHF: reaching operations in 50 countries worldwide, an extraordinary achievement since the organisation first launched its global programmes in 2002 in South Africa and Uganda.

The observances will promote HIV prevention, testing, condom access, treatment, and care, while demonstrating solidarity with people and communities affected by HIV/AIDS. World AIDS Day is observed annually on December 1.

Despite decades of progress in the fight against HIV, around 40 million people worldwide are living with the virus, with women and girls representing more than half of those affected. Stigma and discrimination continue to prevent many from accessing essential care while key populations face significant barriers to treatment.

These challenges are compounded by chronic underfunding of the global HIV response, highlighting the urgent need for sustained HIV/AIDS financing — including full funding of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, tuberculosis, and malaria.

AHF’s global World AIDS Day events will highlight these persistent gaps and reinforce the importance of keeping HIV/AIDS at the forefront of national and global public health priorities.

“This World AIDS Day reminds us that the fight against HIV is far from over. Millions of people still face barriers to testing, treatment, and ongoing care, while stigma and high drug prices put lifesaving tools out of reach,” said Terri Ford, AHF chief of global advocacy and policy.

“Expanding access to prevention, including condoms and new innovations, supporting retention in care, and ensuring affordable treatment are critical to stopping new infections and saving lives. Governments and communities must work together to ensure progress is equitable for everyone living with or affected by HIV,” added Ford.

Additionally, Ford said pharma greed continues to block progress for the global HIV/AIDS response.

“Even with prevention tools like long-acting injectables, high prices keep them out of reach for the people and countries that need them most. True progress demands that pharmaceutical companies put people before profits because innovation doesn’t matter if it isn’t accessible to all.

“World AIDS Day serves as a vital platform for HIV/AIDS advocates to acknowledge the progress made, honour those we have lost to AIDS-related illnesses and those who carry on the fight, and call on governments worldwide to commit the necessary resources and political will to end HIV/AIDS. On this World AIDS Day, we’re reminded: It’s Not Over,” said Ford.