United Nations: Ending AIDS by 2030 is within reach, but strong leadership required

The United Nations has declared that it is possible to bring an end to AIDS by 2030 but emphasized that seizing the opportunity requires strong leadership from global leaders, DW reports.

In a report, the UNAIDS agency stated that countries that have demonstrated strong political commitments and invested in evidence-based HIV prevention and treatment programs have shown the way forward. It highlighted the importance of adopting non-discriminatory laws and empowering community networks as effective responses to HIV.

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima emphasized that ending the pandemic is a political and financial choice, and that success is achievable in this decade. Byanyima urged current leaders to be remembered as those who halted the world's deadliest pandemic.

Significant progress has been made in the African region, particularly in countries and regions that have made strong investments in combating HIV. In eastern and southern Africa, new HIV infections have declined by 57% since 2010. Several countries, including Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania, and Zimbabwe, have already achieved the 95-95-95 targets.

These targets entail ensuring that 95% of individuals living with HIV know their status, 95% of those aware of their HIV-positive status receive life-saving anti-retroviral treatment, and 95% of people on treatment achieve viral suppression. Additionally, countries such as Denmark, Kuwait, and Thailand are nearing the achievement of these targets.

According to UNAIDS, in 2022, there were 39mn people living with HIV globally, with 29.8mn having access to anti-retroviral therapy. The number of individuals on treatment has nearly quadrupled since 2010 when it stood at 7.7mn. Last year, there were 1.3mn new HIV infections, which marks a 59% decrease from the peak in 1995.

However, AIDS-related illnesses led to the deaths of 630,000 people. The report highlights that overall, AIDS-related deaths have declined by 69% since reaching their peak in 2004.

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