2024-07-22 18:20:42
Approximately 1.3 million people were infected in 2023. The organization fears that the target of 330,000 infections by 2025 will be unattainable.
:quality(50)/2023/07/06/64a68815cd1a7_placeholder-36b69ec8.png "\"SIDA : 1,3 Million de Nouvelles Infections en 2023, Objectif de 330,000 Infections en 2025 Jugé Inatteignable\"")
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Time is running out. The decisions made this year by political leaders will determine whether the world can achieve the goal of eliminating AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, judged UNAIDS, the UN agency specializing in this disease, on Monday, July 22. In 2023, just under 40 million people were living with the AIDS virus, HIV, reveals the annual report from the organization.
About 1.3 million people were newly infected in 2023, which is about 100,000 fewer than the year before. This is 60% less than at the peak in 1995, when 3.3 million people caught HIV. However, UNAIDS considers that the target of 330,000 infections by 2025 is unattainable. AIDS also kills much less: 630,000 deaths in 2023, compared to 670,000 deaths the previous year. This is also 69% less than in 2004, the dark year of the pandemic.
Access to antiretroviral therapy remains the major challenge. By the end of December 2023, 30.7 million people had access to one of these therapies, compared to only 7.7 million in 2010, but this figure remains below the 2025 target of 34 million people.
And most importantly, almost a quarter of people infected with the virus are not receiving treatment. Eastern and southern Africa remains the most affected region: 20.8 million people live with HIV there, 450,000 were infected last year and 260,000 died from it.
Stigma and discrimination, and sometimes criminalization, against certain groups of people also hinder progress because infected individuals cannot seek help and treatment safely. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, only half of people infected with HIV are treated, and in North Africa and the Middle East, only 49%, compared to a global average of 77%. “Stigma kills. Solidarity saves lives.” summarized UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, and the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Türk.
Future Trends in the Fight Against HIV/AIDS
The global struggle against HIV/AIDS continues to evolve, as highlighted by the recent report from UNAIDS. In 2023, around 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV, showing a decrease compared to previous years, yet the ambitious goal of reducing infections to 330,000 by 2025 appears increasingly distant. With approximately 40 million individuals living with HIV worldwide, urgent action is required to ensure that the progress made does not stall.
The landscape of HIV treatment is also shifting. As of the end of 2023, 30.7 million people were receiving antiretroviral therapy, a significant increase from just 7.7 million in 2010. However, this still falls short of the goal of providing treatment to 34 million individuals by 2025. The fact that nearly a quarter of those infected by HIV are not receiving treatment underscores a critical challenge: ensuring access to life-saving medications in all regions, particularly in eastern and southern Africa, which remains the most affected area.
Moreover, stigma and discrimination continue to impede treatment efforts. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, only half of the people living with HIV are receiving treatment, with even lower rates in North Africa and the Middle East. Addressing these societal barriers is vital, as they not only prevent individuals from seeking care but also contribute to higher mortality rates.
As we look to the future, the integration of technology and data-driven approaches into healthcare could play a transformative role. Enhanced outreach programs leveraging mobile health solutions and telemedicine may improve access to testing and treatment in underserved regions. Additionally, fostering community initiatives that promote education and challenge stigma could encourage individuals to seek care.
The collective response to HIV/AIDS must focus on creating an inclusive environment where every individual feels safe and empowered to access healthcare. Failure to do so risks a setback in years of hard-won progress. The upcoming years will be critical not only for meeting treatment goals but also for addressing the underlying societal issues that allow the epidemic to persist.