Geneva, Nov 30, : If leaders don’t address stark inequalities the world could see 7.7 million AIDS-related deaths in the next ten years, warned the Joint UN Programme on HIV and AIDS, UNAIDS in a new report.This warning comes ahead of World AIDS Day on Dec 1. HIV continues to be a major global problem for health, having claimed 36.3 millions lives worldwide so far.Around 680,000 people died of HIV-related causes in 2020.1.5 million people contracted HIV globally.HIV infection was estimated to have affected 38 million people.
The agency has released a new report calling on countries to end Covid-19 and address inequality to prepare for future pandemics.
It stated that if no transformative measures are taken, the world will remain trapped in the Covid-19 crisis and be dangerously unprepared for any future pandemics.
Winnie Byanyima (UNAIDS Executive Director), stated that progress against the AIDS pandemic was already slowing down.
“We can’t be forced to choose between fighting the AIDS pandemic now or preparing for the pandemics tomorrow.” She added that the only way to achieve both is through a successful approach.
The report revealed that Covid-19 is undermining the AIDS response in many areas.The rate of HIV testing fell almost uniformly, and in 2020, fewer HIV-positive people initiated treatment in 40 of 50 countries that reported to UNAIDS.
HIV prevention services have been affected — in 2020 harm reduction services for people who use drug were disrupted by 65 percent of the 130 countries surveyed.
Despite some countries making “remarkable progress” in fighting AIDS, the report noted that new HIV infections aren’t falling fast enough to end the pandemic.There will be 1.5 million new HIV cases in 2020, and rising HIV infection rates in certain countries.
Helen Clark, Cochair of the Independent Panel for Pandemic Preparedness and Response in the UNAIDS report, stated that pandemics thrive in fractures and societies.”Work to end pandemics can’t succeed unless world leaders make the necessary steps to do so.”
The report also identified five critical elements that must be implemented immediately to stop the AIDS pandemic, but are not adequately funded or prioritized.
These include community-led or community-based infrastructure, equitable and fair access to medicines, vaccines, and health technologies, and support workers on the frontlines of pandemics.
It reiterated that human rights must be at center of pandemic response, with people-centred information systems that highlight inequalities.
“To catch up to pre-pandemic progress key populations must also be reached through institutionalised community engagement initiatives.
There must be sufficient and sustained domestic investments for HIV services, which must be made available at the primary care level.High-impact innovations must also be leveraged, and action should be intensified to address the epidemic’s non-biomedical dimensions, including legal and policy domains,” stated Dr Poonam Khetrapal Sing, WHO Regional Director for South-East Asia.
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