Nigeria, June 24 -- The Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), Winnie Byanyima, has warned that the United States' planned withdrawal of HIV/AIDS funding from South Africa could cost lives and undermine decades of progress in the fight against the disease.

Speaking ahead of a high-level United Nations meeting on HIV/AIDS, Ms Byanyima urged Washington to reconsider the decision and adopt a gradual transition plan to prevent disruptions to critical HIV services.

South Africa carries the world's largest HIV burden, with about eight million people living with the virus. While the country funds most of its treatment programme, US support has remained crucial for prevention services, testing programmes ...