The World Health Organization, or WHO, announced that 21.3 million people are currently receiving HIV Drugs – antiretroviral treatment, extending their life expectancy, on this year’s World AIDS Day, which has as its theme “Take the rights path: My health, my right.”
In a statement to commemorate the day, WHO Regional Director for Africa Dr. Matshidiso Moeti revealed this and noted a notable decline in the number of new HIV infections and AIDS-related fatalities.
Moeti added that despite the recorded decreases, the number of new HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa is higher in 2023 for the first time.
“The WHO African region is also the leading region globally in advancements towards the achievements of the 95-95-95 UNAIDS HIV testing, treatment and viral suppression targets, aimed at closing gaps in treatment coverage and outcomes.”
She revealed that the region’s overall rating is currently 90-82-76, with seven countries having already met the 95-95-95 UNAIDS HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression targets.
According to her, the theme serves as a pertinent reminder of each person’s obligation to protect human rights while working toward the 2030 HIV eradication target.
She revealed that the region’s overall rating is currently 90-82-76, with seven countries having already met the 95-95-95 UNAIDS HIV testing, treatment, and viral suppression targets.
According to her, the theme serves as a pertinent reminder of each person’s obligation to protect human rights while working toward the 2030 HIV eradication target.
“HIV is a complex health challenge, inseparable from social determinants such as poverty, gender inequality and violence, and complicated by stigma and discrimination, especially amongst marginalized populations. Protecting human rights is a key component of achieving universal HIV care, and breaking down these life-threatening barriers to access.
“World AIDS Day also provides an opportunity for reflection on the achievements. African countries have made significant progress, with the change in the trajectory of the epidemic over the past decade evidence of the notable successes in HIV control and response. This is despite having the highest HIV burden globally, and comparatively fewer resources to fight the epidemic.
According to Moeti, Namibia (bronze tier status) and Botswana (silver tier status) have both been acknowledged for significantly reducing mother-to-child HIV transmission rates and meeting the necessary indicators for the 2017 “Path to Eliminate HIV” criteria.
She added that the African Region is also putting into practice efficient biomedical HIV prevention strategies, with nations swiftly embracing and putting into practice pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) guidelines and guaranteeing greater accessibility to options like oral and long-acting injectable PrEP, as well as the dipivefrine vaginal ring.
The value of the innovations depends on their universal accessibility, she bemoaned, even though scientific knowledge and tools for effectively treating individuals living with HIV and preventing new infections have become more accessible.