The UN believes that “the end of AIDS” is still possible by 2030, but warns that a lack of funding is holding back progress in the fight against the world’s deadliest pandemic. According to Winnie Byanyima, executive director of the programme, the plan presented in a new UNAIDS (United Nations Program on HIV/AIDS) report “shows that success is still possible in this decade.”
UNAIDS has no doubt that ending AIDS is a political and financial decision, which articulates initiatives around the world to end the disease by 2030 as part of the sustainable development goals adopted in 2015 by the UN. The organization also highlighted the need to combat inequalities, support communities and civil society organizations, and ensure adequate and sustainable funding.
Byanyima highlighted that the greatest progress was registered in the countries and regions that invested the most economically, with emphasis on the countries of East Africa and the southern part of this continent, where infections registered a drop of 57% since 2010. Botswana, Swaziland , Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have achieved the so-called “95-95-95” targets, which means that 95% of people living with HIV know their health status, 95% are on treatment and 95% and 95% of people treated have a drop in their viral load, meaning they are not transmitting the virus.
Another 16 countries – eight of them in sub-Saharan Africa, the region where 65% of HIV-positive people live – are close to reaching the goal.
Source: TSF
