HIV Crisis in Tigray Worsens Amid Post-War Struggles

Tigray’s HIV crisis has worsened. Tigray was once a success story in the fight against HIV, with years of awareness campaigns lowering the region’s prevalence rate to 1.4%, one of the lowest in Ethiopia.

However, the 2020 war between Ethiopia’s government—backed by Eritrea—and Tigray forces reversed much of this progress. Today, the HIV prevalence rate has more than doubled to 3%, with rates among displaced persons reaching 5.5% and 8.6% among sexual violence survivors, according to local health authorities and the United Nations.

The impact of war
Sexual violence was rampant during the two-year conflict, with 10% of women and girls between ages 15-49 subjected to rape or gang rape, according to a 2023 BMJ Global Health study. Meanwhile, Tigray’s health system collapsed, with 86% of health facilities damaged and only 17% still functional.

The Ayder Referral Hospital in Mekele has seen a surge in HIV-positive cases, according to Akberet Mengesha, the hospital’s Antiretroviral Therapy Department Coordinator. The hospital also reports a sharp increase in mother-to-child HIV transmission, previously near zero, due to disruptions in essential medication during the conflict.

Global aid cuts worsening the crisis
Limited access to condoms during the war and worsening poverty have contributed to rising infections. Some displaced individuals have turned to sex work for survival, further exacerbating the crisis.

Aid cuts have also deepened the problem. The U.S. administration’s decision to eliminate 83% of USAID’s global HIV programs has forced Ethiopia to lay off 5,000 health workers and issue stop-work orders to charities assisting HIV patients.

“Unfortunately, there is still a shortage of essential medications to address this growing crisis,” said Teame Aregay, the Ayder Hospital Pharmacy Head.

With dwindling resources and rising infections, Tigray’s battle against HIV is now more urgent than ever.