Kanzira Kihanga, a woman who lives in Congo, says she wasn’t surprised to learn in May 2025 that she was infected by the virus that causes AIDS. The 21-year-old believes she contracted the virus after back-to-back rapes by armed men. After the first attack, she went to a clinic but was only given half a dose of the PEP medication.* Two weeks later, she was raped again as she walked to the clinic to pick up the remainder of the dosage.

*Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) refers to HIV medicines that are taken after a possible exposure to prevent HIV infection.

Excerpt from Nicholas Bariyo, Congo Braces for HIV Surge After U.S. Funding Stops, WSJ, July 4, 2025