UNAIDS – HEALTH
NEWS: UNAIDS Global AIDS Update
WHAT’S IN THE NEWS?
"The Urgency of Now: AIDS at
a Crossroads"
Goal: End AIDS as a public health
threat by 2030 by addressing inequalities, increasing access to prevention and
treatment, and ensuring sustainable resources.
Progress and Challenges
Reduction in New Infections and
Deaths:
- 39% reduction in new HIV infections globally
since 2010.
- Sub-Saharan Africa: 56% reduction.
- 31 million people receiving antiretroviral
therapy (ART) in 2023.
- Lowest AIDS-related deaths since 2004 due to
increased ART access.
Regional Disparities:
- Progress in sub-Saharan Africa.
- Rising infections in Eastern Europe, Central
Asia, Latin America, and the Middle East/North Africa.
- More new infections outside sub-Saharan Africa
for the first time.
Key Affected Groups:
- High risk for sex workers, men who have sex
with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people, and people in
prisons.
- Underfunded community-led interventions.
Prevention and Treatment Gaps:
·
Insufficient
access to services like pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) and harm reduction.
·
9.3
million people living with HIV not receiving ART, especially children and
adolescents.
UNAIDS
- About:
Only
cosponsored Joint Programme in the UN system, involving 11 UN entities and
civil society representation.
- Mission:
End
AIDS by 2030 as part of the Sustainable Development Goals.
HIV/AIDS Overview
HIV: Attacks immune system,
specifically CD4 cells.
AIDS: Final stage of HIV infection;
severely damaged immune system.
Transmission: Through
blood, semen, vaginal/rectal fluids, and breast milk.
Symptoms: Range
from flu-like in early stages to severe immune system damage in AIDS.
Diagnosis and Treatment
- Tests:
HIV
antibody/antigen tests and nucleic acid tests (NATs).
- Treatment:
Antiretroviral
therapy (ART) and pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP).
India's Efforts
- Laws:
HIV
and AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act, 2017.
- Programs:
Project
Sunrise, 90-90-90 targets, MoU for outreach and stigma reduction.
International Initiatives
- UNAIDS: Leading global effort to
end AIDS by 2030.
- WHO
"Treat All" Guidance: Recommends early treatment to reduce
transmission.
- Global
AIDS Strategy 2021-2026: Focus on closing gaps and ending
inequalities.
Key Suggestions from the Report
Accelerating Prevention:
- Expand access to prevention services,
especially for key populations.
- Reinstate condom programs and scale up PrEP
use.
Enhancing Treatment and Care:
- Aim for 95% ART coverage by 2025.
- Improve diagnosis and treatment for children.
- Integrate HIV services with broader health
services.
Addressing Inequalities and
Stigma:
- Remove harmful laws and reduce stigma and
discrimination.
- Ensure legal protection for people living with
HIV and key populations.
Community-Led Responses:
- Strengthen community-led organizations to
deliver a significant portion of HIV services.
Sustainable Financing:
- Address funding shortfalls, requiring an
additional USD 9.5 billion by 2025.
- Explore new funding sources, especially for
low- and middle-income countries.
Source: https://epaper.thehindu.com/ccidist-ws/th/th_international/issues/92172/OPS/GEAD2H5J8.1+GGQD3J5TB.1.html