HIV - UNAIDS: Global Fight against Aids and HIV at a Crossroads
Despite significant achievements in the fight against HIV/AIDS, the United Nations are still far from their goal of largely overcoming the immune system disease by 2030. "The way to end AIDS is no secret. It's a political and financial decision," emphasized UNAIDS at the release of its new report. If leaders now increase funding and protect the rights of particularly affected groups, the goal can still be reached. These groups include men who have sex with men, transgender people, intravenous drug users, and sex workers.
Financial cuts, discrimination, and a growing restriction of human rights have threatened previous progress, warned UNAIDS ahead of the World AIDS Conference in Munich. Successes in the fight against AIDS have been particularly notable in sub-Saharan Africa, although the numbers remain high there. However, infections have been rising significantly in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
Far from the Interim Goal
According to data from the new UNAIDS report, approximately 1.3 million people were newly infected with the virus last year. The interim goal is to reduce annual new infections to under 370,000 by 2025 - in 2023, the number was still 3.5 times higher.
The number of deaths was down to 630,000, which was only half the number in 2010. However, someone still dies every minute worldwide from AIDS-related causes. The world is not on track to reach the interim goal for 2025, which is to reduce AIDS-related deaths to under 250,000.
Call to Action for Political Leaders Worldwide
Although the number of people receiving antiretroviral treatment has increased: Still, nearly every fourth person affected does not have access to life-saving medications - which also prevent the spread of the virus. Children are particularly disadvantaged: Of those infected, 77% of those aged 15 and over have access, but only 57% of children under 14.
The UN aims to reduce new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths from 2010 to 2030 by over 90%. The decisions made by heads of state and government this year, according to UNAIDS, will determine whether this goal will be reached and whether AIDS will no longer be considered a public health threat by 2030.
Millions of Lives to be Saved
"Heads of state and government can save millions of lives, prevent millions of new HIV infections, and ensure that all people living with HIV can lead healthy, fulfilling lives," urged Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. It is essential to provide sufficient resources for HIV prevention and to protect the human rights of all.
According to the report, the number of people living with HIV who require lifelong support could stabilize at around 29 million by 2050 if heads of state and government take the necessary and decisive actions now. It will result in significantly higher costs if AIDS is not addressed appropriately. According to a study, the number of people requiring lifelong support could rise to 46 million, compared to 39.9 million in 2023 if the right decisions are not made.
Success in Southern Africa, Concerns about Eastern Europe
HIV new infections decreased globally by 39% since 2010, according to UNAIDS, with a 59% decrease in eastern and southern Africa. However, in three regions of the world, the number of HIV new infections has increased: Latin America, the Middle East and North Africa, and most notably, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In the latter region, HIV control efforts seem to be in danger due to political and financial challenges. It is the only region where mortality rates are also rising.
Stigmatization hinders access to help
Additionally, stigmatization and discrimination, particularly towards sex workers, men who have sex with men, and intravenous drug users, hinder access to prevention and treatment. According to the new report, people in these groups and their sexual partners accounted for 45% of global new infections in comparison to 2010. This percentage rose to 55% already in 2022. Prevention and treatment options only reach people when their human rights are respected.
The use of condoms remains the most effective and affordable method for HIV prevention, but its usage is declining. Access to prevention methods like the medicinal pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is limited, except in wealthy countries.
Global financing for the fight against HIV in low- and middle-income countries, as reported by UNAIDS, is declining. In the previous year, it decreased by 5% compared to the previous year, reaching $19.8 billion (€18.2 billion) in comparison to 2022. This fell short of the required amount of $29.3 billion by $9.5 billion. Domestic financing in poorer countries was also reduced by 6% from 2022 to 2023.
- The World AIDS Conference in Munich served as a platform for UNAIDS to warn about financial cuts, discrimination, and human rights restrictions threatening progress against HIV/AIDS.
- Achievements in fighting HIV/AIDS have been particular in sub-Saharan Africa, although the number of new infections remains high.
- Eastern Europe and Central Asia have witnessed a significant rise in HIV infections, putting HIV control efforts in danger.
- The science of HIV/AIDS has advanced, with antiretroviral treatment increasing and the virus becoming less deadly, but disparities persist.
- At the United Nations, UNAIDS emphasized the political and financial decisions needed to end AIDS, with a focus on the rights of vulnerable groups.
- The use of condoms, the most effective and affordable method of HIV prevention, is declining globally, while access to PrEP is limited, especially in low-income countries.
- Heads of state and government can prevent millions of new HIV infections and save millions of lives by providing sufficient resources for HIV prevention and protecting human rights.
- The new UNAIDS report warns of rising mortality rates in Eastern Europe and Central Asia due to political and financial challenges, putting HIV control efforts at risk.
- The Sahara region, traditionally less impacted by HIV/AIDS, has seen alarming increases in infections among men who have sex with men and intravenous drug users.
- UNAIDS is calling on leaders to protect the rights of transgender people, men who have sex with men, intravenous drug users, and sex workers, who account for a significant share of global new HIV infections.
- In Munich, world leaders were urged to take decisive action to avoid the proliferation of HIV/AIDS cases and reach the UN's interim goal of reducing annual new infections and AIDS-related deaths by 2025.
- The United Nations and UNAIDS are working to stabilize the number of people living with HIV who require lifelong support in Central Asia, Bavaria, and other regions, recognizing the high costs resulting from inaction.
