…Urges countries to invest more on drugs
By Joyce Remi-Babayeju
As the world marks the 201 World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization, WHO, has disclosed that at least 2,500 news cases of HIV are recorded daily in the African Region.
WHO African Regional Representative, Dr Matshidiso Meoti disclosed this in a message to mark the day in Africa with the theme, “End inequalities. End AIDS. End pandemic”.
Moeti noted that HIV remains a major public health concern burden in Africa and globally since the first HIV cases were reported 40 years ago.
She said,” Last year, two out of every three new HIV infections occurred in the African Region, corresponding to almost 2 500 new HIV infections every day. Sadly, AIDS claimed the lives of 460 000 people, or a shocking 1 300 every day, in spite of free access to effective treatments.”
The global health agency therefore called on countries to increase HIV fundings amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
The WHO Regional head said, “I urge governments to prioritize investment in health funding for community-led, human rights-based, gender transformative responses. We must boost our essential health workforce, and secure equitable access to life-saving medicines and health technologies.”
“Going forward, we cannot afford to lose focus on the urgent need to end the inequities that drive AIDS and other epidemics around the world.”
She decried the negative impact of treatment and care on HIV across Africa due to the demands of COVID-19 but noted that in spite of the challenges Africa has made significant progress against HIV in the past decade.
In areas reducing new infections by 43% and nearly halving AIDS-related death, stating that in the Region, 86% of people living with HIV know their status, and 76% are receiving antiretroviral therapy, she said.
She lamented that Africa may likely not end AIDS by 2030 due to less reduction in cases.
She said,” We are unlikely to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, after we fell short of the expected 75% reduction in new HIV infections and 81% reduction in AIDS-related deaths by 2020.
Despite the very high percentages of people living with HIV who know their status, and treatment rates, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths are not decreasing concomitantly.”
For instance, in West and Central Africa last year, key populations and their sexual partners accounted for 72% of new adult HIV infections. Yet punitive laws, policies, hostile social and cultural environments, and stigma and discrimination, including in the health sector, prevent them from accessing services.
With COVID-19, people living with HIV appear to be at elevated risk for virus-related illness and death. Nearly 70% live in the WHO African Region, where only 4.5% of people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19.
WHO stressed that Global solidarity and shared responsibility are critical components of the kind of rights-based approach needed end HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
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