World Health Organization (WHO) has raised alarm over a looming shortage of Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) drugs in eight countries—six of them in Africa—following the Donald Trump-led US government's decision to pause foreign aid. The freeze is already disrupting life-saving health programmes worldwide and is expected to cause havoc in the near future. Which Countries Will Be Impacted?According to WHO Director-General Dr. Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, Nigeria, Kenya, Lesotho, South Sudan, Burkina Faso, Mali, Haiti, and Ukraine are among the nations expected to run out of anti-retroviral (ARV) medicines in the coming months. These medicines are crucial in managing HIV and preventing its transmission. “Disruptions to HIV programmes could undo 20 years of progress,” Dr Tedros warned at a press conference. He added that the fallout could result in more than 10 million additional HIV cases and three million HIV-related deaths—over three times the number recorded last year.38 Million People Live With HIV in Sub-Saharan AfricaSub-Saharan Africa, home to 25 million of the world's 38 million people living with HIV, is expected to bear the brunt. Nigeria alone has nearly two million HIV-positive individuals, many of whom depend on aid-supported medicines. Kenya, with approximately 1.4 million people living with HIV, ranks seventh globally in disease burden.Dr Tedros acknowledged the historical generosity of the US in supporting global health but urged the administration to reconsider its approach. "The US also has a responsibility to ensure that if it withdraws direct funding for countries, it’s done in an orderly and humane way. We ask the US to reconsider its support for global health, which not only saves lives around the world, it also makes the US safer by preventing outbreaks from spreading internationally," he said. With the US pausing its funds in the healthcare sector, along with UNAIDS, a global threat for HIV cases has risen. It has led to panic, fear, and confusion in many African countries that are the hardest hit by AIDs. In fact, official data states that this move could lead to a 6 times jump in HIV cases. While HIV and AIDS are being discussed all over the news now, not many know the difference between the two.What Is HIV?Human immunodeficiency virus or HIV is a disease that weakens a person's immune system by attacking CD4 cells which help the body fight off infection.HIV is primarily spread by:Having multiple sex partners or the presence of other sexually transmitted diseases can increase the risk of infection during sex. Unprotected oral sex can also increase for HIV, though it is a much lower risk than anal or vaginal sexSharing needles, syringes, rinse waterBeing born to an infected motherWhat Are The Countries With Maximum Cases Of HIV? As per the World Population Review, the top 10 countries with the highest HIV rates as of 2023 are:Eswatini at 27.5%Lesotho at 20.5%Botswana at 19.7%South Africa at 16.6%Mozambique at 11.8%Zimbabwe at 11.7%Namibia at 11.5%Zambia 11%Malawi at 7.5%Uganda at 5.6%