UNAIDS report: boosted resource and human right protection needed for ending AIDS | Press Conference скачать в хорошем качестве

UNAIDS report: boosted resource and human right protection needed for ending AIDS | Press Conference

Press briefing by César Núñez, Director of the UNAIDS New York Office, on the launch of the UNAIDS report entitled "The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads" just ahead of the 25th International AIDS Conference #AIDS2024 in Munich, Germany. According to a new UN report, AIDS pandemic can be ended by 2030, but only if leaders boost resources and protect human rights now. Briefing reporters on the report ‘The Urgency of Now: AIDS at a Crossroads,’ launched today (22 Jul), Cesar Nunez, Director of the UNAIDS New York Office said, “At the end of December 2023 30 point 7 million people were accessing antiretroviral treatment that is 7.7 million up from 2010 but still short of the 34 million target that we have for 2025.” He continued, “In terms of new infections, they have been reduced by 60 percent since the peak in 1995: in 2023 1.3 million people were newly infected with HIV compared to 3.3 million in 1995.” He added, “Because of the advances in treatment and the reductions of new infections, of course, we also have a reduction in the number of deaths.” The new report brings together new data and case studies which demonstrate that the decisions and policy choices taken by world leaders this year will decide the fate of millions of lives and whether the world’s deadliest pandemic is overcome. Cesar Nunez, explained, “The HIV response is far from over, and even if the world succeeds in ending AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, over 30 million people will be living with HIV in 2050.” He stressed, “The world is not on track. Global new HIV infections in our report are shown as not declining fast enough and in 3 regions of the world in particular, infections are rising: Eastern Europe and Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa, and Latin America.” He also said, “We must remain strong with the political commitments and underscored the importance of maintaining the gains in HIV treatment and prevention amidst the changing of governments.” He noted, “Well, now we have an injectable every six months. Can you imagine that? You take a shot in January; you take another shot in July and that's it. So, innovation is good, but at what cost? We're going back to when we started with the first antiretroviral medications that were so expensive, that were not accessible worldwide.” He highlighted, “Now, access to these long-acting preventions and treatment will be a game changing breakthrough. Now we're talking about what is the game changer. This would be a game changer in the world. This could transform access to poor people, to people from the key populations, gay men, sex workers, and young women and girls in Africa would be freed from the stigma and discrimination or fear of being attacked for being seen having the medicine taking medicine every day. Again, the price is just too high and accessible, mostly in high income countries.” He said, “We need to save lives and the countries need to decriminalize and end the criminalization faced by girls and women that is driving this pandemic, particularly in Sub Saharan Africa, where 3,200 young girls, adolescent girls are infected every week.” He concluded, “If leaders take the path of solidarity, their legacy will be preventing millions of new infections, saving millions of lives, ensuring healthy and full lives for everyone living with HIV, and keeping all of us safe.”