UN says 'end to AIDS'

The global body said that despite many challenges, there is a path to end AIDS. Success is only possible, however, if countries demonstrate the political will to invest in prevention and adopt non-discriminatory laws.

A significant progress in the fight against HIV/AIDS in recent years. New infections have decreased by 40% since the peak in 1997, while access to treatment has increased dramatically. However, the report highlighted persistent disparities in access to prevention, care, and support services among different populations, including women, children, LGBT+ individuals, and people living in poverty.

To achieve the goal of ending AIDS by 2030, the UN called for a comprehensive approach that includes scaling up proven prevention strategies, such as condom use and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), expanding access to HIV testing and treatment, and addressing social and economic barriers that keep people from accessing services.

The report also stressed the importance of human rights and non-discrimination in the response to HIV/AIDS. Discrimination and criminalization of certain groups, such as sex workers and people who use drugs, not only violate their rights but also impede efforts to control the epidemic.

The UN urged countries to adopt laws and policies that promote equality and non-discrimination, and to remove punitive measures that exacerbate the vulnerability of marginalized communities.

Overall, the UN report offered a message of hope and possibility in the fight against HIV/AIDS. However, it cautioned that progress will depend on sustained political commitment, adequate funding, and a willingness to address systemic inequalities and human rights violations.

Success is possible in this decade,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said. 

"The end of AIDS is an opportunity," for today's leaders to be remembered as "those who put a stop to the world's deadliest pandemic," said Byanyima.

Progress made in the African 

Their status, 95% of those who know their status are accessing treatment, and 95% of those on treatment have suppressed viral loads.

The 95-95-95 targets were set by UNAIDS as part of its global HIV strategy. The aim is to achieve these targets by 2030, which would result in nearly ending the HIV epidemic.

However, there are still many challenges to be addressed to achieve these targets globally.

According to UNAIDS, there were hn people living with HIV in 2019, and 1.7 million new HIV infections that year. There were also vh AIDS-related deaths.

UNAIDS has called for increased investment in HIV prevention and treatment to ensure that the gains made in countries like those in southern and eastern Africa are sustained and replicated globally.

h the virus in 2020, a decline from 1.7 million in 2010.

However, the COVID-19 pandemic has posed new challenges to the global HIV response, resulting in disruptions to HIV services and prevention efforts, as well as setbacks in the progress made in recent years.

UNAIDS warns that without urgent action to mitigate the impact of COVID-19, the world risks a resurgence of new HIV infections, AIDS-related deaths, and setbacks in the progress towards ending the epidemic by 2030.

The agency calls for increased investment in HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care, as well as stronger health systems and social protections to support the most vulnerable populations.