fighting against HIV as the threat to global public health could end within this decade, but requires strong political leadership and greater financial investment, warns a new report Joint UN Program on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) about the evolution of this disease.
“The road to the end of AIDS is not a mystery, but a political and financial choice,” emphasized the executive director UNAIDSUgandan Winnie Byanyima.
Byanyima assured that this is “the same path that will help societies prepare for future pandemics and will help countries achieve Goals of sustainable development“.
Some countries like Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe already achieved the goals “95-95-95” from the UN agency, which means that 95% of people with AIDS in these countries know their status, 95% of those who know receive antiretroviral treatment and 95% of those on treatment achieve suppression of the virus.
“This shows that we can end AIDS if world leaders are brave, if they follow the signs, fight stigma and discrimination, train and work with communities and invest what is needed,” said the former minister. Health of Botswana and co-chairman Global Coalition for HIV Prevention, Sheila Tlou.
The report’s findings show that domestic and international financing in low- and middle-income countries is lagging behind. 20.8 billion dollars in 2022, compared to 29.300 million dollarsneeded until 2025.
In this sense, the director UNAIDS He said discrimination and lack of investment hit so-called “vulnerable groups” the most, which include gay men or men who have sex with men, sex workers, transsexual women, drug addicts and prisoners.
However, the report finds that this eradication will not be immediate, as around 2022 630,000 people have died of AIDS-related diseases around the world, claiming one life every minute, in what the UNAIDS director called a “collective shame”.
The report shows particularly worrying data on the prevalence of HIV/AIDS in women and girls from sub-Saharan Africa, who accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2022.
Another main source of infection was Asia and the Pacificwhere almost a quarter (23%) of new HIV infections occurred.
“About 9.2 million people still do not have access to treatment, including 660,000 children living with HIV,” said Harry Prabowo, coordinator of the Asia-Pacific Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS.
“Countries that are on the way are already doing it, so we know there is a chance it will come to an end,” concluded UNAIDS Communications Director Ben Philips.
Source: Panama America
I am Amelia James, a passionate journalist with a deep-rooted interest in current affairs. I have more than five years of experience in the media industry, working both as an author and editor for 24 Instant News. My main focus lies in international news, particularly regional conflicts and political issues around the world.
