AIDS can cause 7.7 million deaths in 10 years

Ground Report | New Delhi: Death due to AIDS; The UNAIDS program warned that in the next 10 years there may be 7.7 million deaths caused by AIDS in the world if political leaders do not decisively address the inequalities that surround the treatment of the syndrome caused by HIV.

UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS, demanded to recover the action aimed at eradicating this pandemic because only in this way will at least 4.6 million of all be avoided those deaths.

Death due to AIDS

“While previously we were far from the path to ending AIDS, the obstacles are now much greater, as covid-19 continues to hit the world hard, forcing the interruption of HIV prevention and treatment services, schooling, violence prevention programs, and much more, "he said in a message on the occasion of World Day.

Byanyima insisted that “we cannot be forced to choose between ending the AIDS pandemic today and preparing for the pandemics of tomorrow. With a single successful approach, we will achieve both objectives. But, as we are now, we are not doing well ”.

UNAIDS released a new report ahead of World Day insisting that without bold action against inequalities, it will not be possible to end the AIDS pandemic, human immunodeficiency syndrome, stop COVID, or prepare for future pandemics.

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The program ensures that several countries, including those with the highest levels of HIV, have been successful in containing the virus and have shown the way in which to do so. However, infections do not fall in the form required to end the pandemic by 2030, as the goal had been set.

In 2020, there were 1.5 million new infections, and six out of every seven people infected in sub-Saharan Africa are adolescents. Also, gays and men who have sex with men among adolescent girls. Gay men and other men who have sex with men, as well as sex workers or drug users, have a 25-35 times higher risk of becoming infected with HIV than the rest of the world's population.

The impact of covid

The COVID pandemic paralyzed or pushed back the battle against AIDS in many countries, according to UNAIDS.

The pace of HIV testing dropped steadily last year and fewer people with the virus started treatment in 40 of the 50 countries that provide information to the program. The same happened with the virus prevention services.

"It is still possible to end the epidemic by 2030," said the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres, in his message for World AIDS Day.

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“However, that will require gradual action and greater solidarity from us. To defeat AIDS and build resilience against the pandemics of tomorrow, we need collective action more than ever, "he remarked.

In June, during a  UN General Assembly High-Level Meeting on AIDS, Member States adopted a very ambitious and achievable new  Political Declaration on HIV and AIDS: End inequalities and be in a position to implement end AIDS by 2030.

Hence the call for urgent scaling up of investment and changes in laws and policies to end the inequalities that drive AIDS, as well as other pandemics.

Four decades living with AIDS

Four decades in which when adequate investments were made there was great progress, especially in access to treatment. In June 2021, 28.2 million people had access to HIV treatment, up from 7.8 million in 2010, although progress towards eradicating the pandemic has been much slower. (Death due to AIDS)

“We already know what works: we have seen brilliant responses in some places, but they need to be applied everywhere and for everyone. We have an effective strategy that the leaders agreed upon this year at the UN, but that must be fully implemented, ”says UNAIDS.

But ending the inequalities that prevent the pandemic from being controlled requires bold policy measures and the necessary funds.

“We have reached a crossroads. We must choose which leaders we want: those who commit to bold actions or those who limit themselves to acting half-heartedly ”, insists the program that leads the global fight against HIV/AIDS.

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