A report from the United Nations Organization (UNO) reveals that it can be accomplished the goal of eliminating AIDS, for the next decade, depending on whether programs to combat the disease are fully funded. However, the section of the international organization dedicated to combating the disease, UNAIDSis facing a deficit of $8.5 billion in its budget for low-income countries by 2025.
“The end of AIDS is an opportunity for today’s leaders to leave an exceptionally powerful legacy,” he said. Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of UNAIDS, in a statement, adding: “Leaders could save millions of lives and protect the health of all. They could show what can be achieved with leadership. The figures in this report show that the way is clear.”
At present, the sub saharan africawhere 65% of all people with the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that can cause AIDS, is making great strides in eliminating the disease. Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe they have already reached the goal “95-95-95”, according to the United Nations agency specialized in combating the disease.
The statistics collected, which the report mentions, mean that 95% of people living with HIV know their serological status, 95% of people who know their status are receiving antiretroviral treatment and 95% of people who receiving the treatment have suppressed the virus, making it nearly impossible to transmit. Another 16 countries, eight of them in the same region, are also close to reaching this goal.
But there are still obstacles to overcome. According to a report by the BBC News portal, 4,000 adolescent and young girls become infected with HIV every week. In sub-Saharan Africa, despite progress, the UN noted that women of all ages are the most vulnerable, accounting for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2022. In Botswana, for example, girls remain vulnerable when abused by older men.
“One of my very close relatives used to help me a lot. He was in his late 30s, twice my age. I trusted him. He abused me and had sex with me, ”a victim told the British media. The woman has been taking antiretroviral drugs since 2012 and is the mother of two seronegative children. “Some days I receive messages from up to five women who contracted HIV from an older person, mostly relatives. If men don’t listen, what can we do?” the Botswana activist asked.
“In Botswana, 95% of people with HIV know their status. The majority of those who do not know their status are men,” said the reverend Mmachakga Mpho Moruakgomoa Christian leader who is part of a multi-faith group addressing the issue, adding: “Since people respect religious leaders, we are using it to talk to men about the need to get tested and sign up for treatment once once its status is confirmed.
Despite educational campaigns, condom use alone has proven insufficient to stop the spread of AIDS in that country. “There is a lot of stigma around HIV and religious leaders were responsible for that,” the African Methodist Episcopal Church pastor admitted to the European portal, adding: “We were very critical and blamed those who got infected. Sex and sexuality are fundamental to our existence. We need to apologize and admit that we were wrong.”
In the rest of the planet the trend is complex, admitted the UN, which revealed that almost a quarter of the new HIV infections registered in 2022 occurred in Asia and the Pacific. However, the steepest increases in new infections were recorded in the Eastern Europe and Central Asia (49% more since 2010) and in the Middle East and North Africa (61% more since 2010). In this regard, the agency stated that these trends are due to the lack of HIV prevention services for marginalized populations and laws that criminalize the LGBTQ+ community.
Finally, a course of antibiotics, known as pre-exposure prophylaxis or PrEP, it is giving positive results and hopes to achieve the desired goal. In Cambodia tablets are being provided free of charge to vulnerable populations, including sex workers, the gay and transgender community. The daily tablet contains the drugs used to treat HIV and also serves to prevent infection when the person is HIV negative.
In Cambodia some 76,000 people are living with HIV. 86% of this population knows their status. And of them, almost 99% can access treatment. New infections have decreased by 91% compared to 1996. PrEP pills are showing encouraging results and there are plans to introduce an injectable version. “In the past, the use of condoms was promoted, but there were many who did not use them. PrEP is an innovative way to help the community prevent the transmission of HIV,” he explained. Danou Chy, Men’s Health Contributor, a health NGO from the Asian country, to the BBC report. It is estimated that the Asian nation’s health model could be adapted to the rest of the world’s countries to eradicate the disease.
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