Foreign aid cut causes sharp drop in HIV testing in Nepal
Summary
HIV testing in Nepal dropped sharply in the first half of 2025 due to suspended foreign funding, threatening years of progress in controlling the disease and leaving key vulnerable populations without preventive medicine.
Key Points
- HIV testing in Nepal fell from 325,514 in early 2024 to 214,722 in the same period of 2025 due to cuts in foreign aid.
- New HIV case detection dropped proportionally, from 1,575 cases to 1,024 cases between the two periods.
- Suspension of USAID funding halted testing and preventive programs among key vulnerable groups such as female sex workers, MSM, and transgender populations.
- Experts warn that lack of testing and prevention could result in increased HIV spread and jeopardize progress made against the disease in Nepal.
