July 14, 2023 — AIDS may very well be eliminated as a public health threat by 2030 if political leaders follow the science, invest enough money and fight inequalities, reportA United Nations agency says.
In East and Southern Africa, recent HIV infections have fallen by 57 percent since 2010 as governments there have invested heavily in anti-AIDS programs, said a Press release from UNAIDS, which accompanied the report. Globally, about 82% of pregnant and breastfeeding women with HIV had access to antiretroviral treatment in 2022, up from 46% in 2010. This led to a 58% decline in recent HIV infections amongst children from 2010 to 2022.
“Ending AIDS is a political and financial decision, and … the countries and politicians already on this path are achieving extraordinary results,” said one Press release from UNAIDS, which was attached to the report.
In fact, the report says Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, the United Republic of Tanzania and Zimbabwe have already achieved their “95-95-95” targets. This implies that 95 percent of individuals living with HIV know their HIV status, 95 percent of individuals living with HIV live with life-saving antiretroviral treatment and 95 percent of individuals on treatment are virally suppressed.
According to UNAIDS, the number of latest HIV infections is increasing in Asia, the Pacific, Central Europe and North Africa. This increase is resulting from cuts in AIDS funding, an absence of HIV prevention services for marginalized groups, and barriers posed by criminal laws and social discrimination. Women and girls are still disproportionately affected by AIDS, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa.
According to UNAIDS, in 2022, 39 million people were living with HIV and 630,000 people died from AIDS-related diseases. The variety of deaths fell from about 2 million in 2004 to 1.3 million in 2010. Since the start of the epidemic, about 40 million people have died from AIDS-related diseases.
“Ending AIDS is an opportunity for today's leaders to leave a uniquely powerful legacy,” said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Future generations could remember them as those who stopped the world's deadliest pandemic. They could save millions of lives and protect the health of all. They could show what leadership can achieve.”