In 2025, the Elton John AIDS Foundation’s outreach touched 523,000 people across 68 nations, a surge that came as global funding cuts threatened to halt many HIV programmes. The foundation tested 230,692 individuals, handed out 57,688 self‑test kits, and began 26,857 people on pre‑exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
The U.S. aid reduction left two‑thirds of partners—mostly in Africa and Asia—reporting clinic closures, lab shutdowns, and halted prevention efforts. To counter this, the foundation launched the Rocket Response Fund and, in September, expanded it to a $200 million reservoir aimed at keeping essential services alive.
Beyond emergency relief, the foundation awarded 44 grants totaling $18,768,059 to community‑led initiatives. Grants went to LGBTQ+‑friendly centres in Uganda, lab testing hubs in Vietnam, condom and test‑kit distribution in Cameroon, and hotline counselling in the Philippines. These projects also trained 9,686 health workers and connected 52,199 people to mental‑health services.
A key scientific advance highlighted was the long‑acting injectable PrEP, recently approved for use in sub‑Saharan Africa. Foundation leaders stressed that “scientific progress must be paired with access” to reach young women and LGBTQ+ communities who are most at risk.
For anyone at risk of HIV, the practical takeaway is clear: discuss PrEP options with your clinician, consider home self‑testing kits for early detection, and seek out community programmes that offer free or low‑cost services. Always verify that any prevention strategy is tailored to your personal health profile and local availability.