The AIDS Response: From Crisis to Transformation. At the close of 2024, the global AIDS response had achieved remarkable gains—new HIV infections down 40% and AIDS-related deaths down 56% since 2010. Yet prevention gaps persisted, with 1.3 million new infections last year alone. 2025 brought both promise and peril. On one hand, groundbreaking prevention tools like lenacapavir—a twice-a-year injection—could spark an HIV prevention revolution. On the other hand, a sudden collapse in funding from the largest contributor to the global response has disrupted treatment and prevention in many countries, threatening millions more infections and deaths by 2029. Despite the shock, communities have stepped up—mobilizing volunteers, leveraging WhatsApp groups, community radio, and grassroots networks to keep people informed and connected to care. The path forward is clear: transition to nationally owned, sustainable, and inclusive HIV responses, supported by a new global economic settlement, debt relief, and strategic investment in innovation. If we embrace these changes, UNAIDS estimates the response could save billions annually—and end AIDS as a public health threat. The crisis is real, but so is our power to transform. Let’s rally global solidarity, drive innovation, and ensure no one is left behind