Significant gains in preventing HIV, but not enough – UN report

(July 31, 2008) While there have been significant gains in preventing new HIV infections in a number of heavily-affected countries and reducing the number of AIDS-related deaths, the epidemic is far from over in any part of the world, says a new United Nations report released on Tuesday, 29^th of July. The 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic, produced by the Joint UN Programme on UNAIDS, is the most comprehensive review of the epidemic to date with 147 countries reporting data on HIV. It notes, among other things, that the combined efforts of governments, civil society and affected communities can make a difference in saving lives. For example, changes in sexual behaviour in countries particularly in Africa have led to a decline in the number of new HIV infections. In addition, the percentage of HIV-positive pregnant women receiving antiretroviral drugs to prevent mother-to-child transmission rose from 14 per cent to 33 per cent from 2005 to 2007. “The overall finding of the report is that we’ve made enormous progress, that there are real results,” UNAIDS Executive Director Peter Piot told journalists, adding, “We’ve achieved more in the fight against AIDS in the last two years than in the preceding 20 years.” At the same time, he stressed the need to sustain the gains made over the long term and scale up efforts at prevention and treatment. There are now an estimated 33 million people living with HIV worldwide, with 2 million estimated to have died from AIDS last year. Also, AIDS continues to be the leading cause of death in Africa. The report – issued by UNAIDS every two years – comes just days ahead of the XVII International AIDS Conference, set to begin in Mexico City on 3 August.