The Joint UN Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) has revealed that African countries worst affected by HIV/AIDS are registering commendable progress in reducing the infection rates of HIV, the virus that causes AIDS.
According to a new status report on HIV/AIDS in the world relased to today by UNAIDS, infection rates globally have fallen by 17% since 2001.
UNAIDS Executive Dir
Executive Director of United Nations Aids Michel Sidibe
ector, Michel Sidibé, says many countries in the world are registering real progress to the goal of halting and beginning to reverse the spread of HIV by 2015, which is the Millennium Development Goals (MDG) number 6.
He was speaking today at the release of new data ahead of the UN summit which begins Monday Septer 20 in New York on how to advance progress on the MDGs, the eight anti poverty targets agreed on by countries to be achieved by 2015.
According to the data, Côte d’Ivoire, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia and Zimbabwe – which have the largest epidemics in Africa – are leading the drop in new HIV infections.
Sidibé says twenty-two countries in sub-Saharan Africa have seen a decline of more than 25 per cent in new HIV infections between 2001 and 2009, according to a news release from the UN
“For the first time change is happening at the heart of the epidemic. In places where HIV was stealing away dreams, we now have hope,” said Mr. Sidibé.
UNAIDS also reported a 12-fold increase in the number of people receiving HIV related treatment, now 5.2 million people, and a significant drop in AIDS deaths thanks to the widespread availability of treatment, maninly the life prolonging anti retroviral drugs.
Sidibé says there have also been gains on the prevention front, with young people choosing to have sex later, having fewer partners and using condoms, leading to a marked decrease in new HIV infections in many countries highly affected by AIDS.
At the same time, UNAIDS noted that challenges remain, including growing HIV epidemics in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, as well as a resurgence of HIV infections among men who have sex with men in several wealthy countries.
Sidibé stressed the need for further investments in research and development to sustain the gains. In 2009, nearly $16 billion was available for the global AIDS response, which is $10 billion short of the estimated need.
This new report provides an overview of six key aspects of AIDS response today:
1. New HIV infections are falling.
2. More than 5 million people are on HIV treatment.
3. HIV prevention works.
4. Virtual elimination of mother-to-child transmission is possible by 2015.
5. Criminalization is challenging the AIDS response.
6. Investing for AIDS is a shared responsibility.
“At this turning point flat-lining or reductions in investments will set back the AIDS response and threaten the world’s ability to reach MDG 6,” he stated. “Investing for AIDS is a shared responsibility – between development partners and national governments.”
Sidibé says UNAIDS also advocates integrating AIDS with other health, development and human rights efforts to accelerate progress across the array of MDGs, make optimum use of available resources, and save and improve more lives.
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For example, new UN estimates show that there were 42,000 deaths due to HIV among pregnant women in 2008, about half of which were estimated to be maternal.
“Integrating HIV investments for maternal health, sexual and reproductive health, as well as child health will leverage better results for millions of people most in need. As we move ahead, the HIV response can help accelerate progress across all eight development goals,” Sidibé said.
UNAIDS will co-host the event AIDS plus MDGs along with China, Nigeria and South Africa on 22 September at the UN Summit. The aim is to look at ways of integrating the AIDS response with other health and development efforts.
“World leaders and UNAIDS are joining together to give the message that we must invest strategically to address multiple MDGs. Releasing the power, capacity and innovation of the AIDS movement may provide one of the best opportunities to ‘do the MDGs’ differently,” said Mr Sidibé.
The new UNAIDS report on HIV AIDS is titled Six things You need to know about the AIDS response today is also here
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