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, 29th 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.