By Milcah Tanimu
Decisions made by political leaders in 2024 will be pivotal in determining whether the goal to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030 can be achieved, the United Nations announced on Monday.
Recent figures show progress in reducing new HIV infections, improving treatment for HIV-positive individuals, and decreasing fatalities, yet UNAIDS cautions that this progress is fragile.
The latest UN report reveals nearly 40 million people are living with HIV, the virus that causes AIDS. In 2023, there were 1.3 million new infections, a decrease of 100,000 from 2022, and a significant drop from the peak of 3.3 million in 1995. Despite this, the long-term trend is far from the UNAIDS target of 330,000 new infections by next year.
AIDS-related deaths have also declined, from 670,000 in 2022 to 630,000 in 2023. While 30.7 million patients are receiving anti-retroviral treatment, this figure falls short of the 2025 target of 34 million.
Eastern and southern Africa remain the most affected regions, with 20.8 million people living with HIV, 450,000 new infections last year, and 260,000 deaths.
Despite the advancements, UNAIDS chief Winnie Byanyima stated that the world is not on track to meet the 2030 goals. “The inequalities that drive the HIV pandemic are not being addressed sufficiently,” Byanyima said, noting that “a person dies from AIDS-related causes every minute.”
Stigma and discrimination continue to hinder treatment efforts, particularly among marginalized groups. Global HIV prevalence among people aged 15 to 49 is 0.8%, but higher rates are seen among prisoners (1.3%), women and girls aged 15 to 24 in eastern and southern Africa (2.3%), sex workers (3.0%), people who inject drugs (5.0%), gay men (7.7%), and transgender individuals (9.2%).
In an AFP interview, Byanyima criticized a “well-coordinated, well-resourced pushback” against LGBTQ rights, reproductive rights, and gender equality. She highlighted that while some sub-Saharan African countries have seen significant reductions in new infections since 2010, regions such as Eastern Europe, Central Asia, and Latin America are experiencing rising infection rates due to stigma and lack of access to services.
Ahead of the 25th International AIDS Conference in Germany, Byanyima and UN human rights chief Volker Turk issued a joint statement urging the removal of punitive laws against LGBTQ individuals. “Stigma kills. Solidarity saves lives,” they said, emphasizing that decriminalizing LGBTQ+ people is essential for protecting human rights and health.
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