Global Health
UNAIDS report: Global Fund recognises progress, stresses need for continued vigilance – News

UNAIDS report: Global Fund recognises progress, emphasises need for continued vigilance
Statement by Peter Sands, Executive Director of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria
July 22, 2024
The Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria (Global Fund) commends the numerous progress highlighted in a brand new UNAIDS report, specifically the increased number of individuals now receiving treatment for HIV. In 2023, 77% of all people living with HIV had access to treatment. This achievement is a testament to the unwavering commitment of medical experts, communities and partners world wide.
For the primary time, the best number of recent HIV infections didn’t occur in sub-Saharan Africa, clearly showing that 20 years of labor in partnership with the Global Fund is bearing fruit.
Despite these efforts, there can be 1.3 million latest HIV infections and 630,000 AIDS-related deaths in 2023. Since the start of the epidemic, 42.3 million people have died.
The global fight against HIV has reached significant milestones, but we still face ongoing challenges that require our continued attention and motion. Despite progress in increasing access to treatment, the speed of recent infections stays alarmingly high, and too many lives are still lost to AIDS-related causes annually.
Marginalized and vulnerable populations proceed to bear the brunt of this epidemic, underscoring the necessity for inclusive, rights-based approaches in our response. It is critical that we innovate, scale up prevention efforts, and secure the essential funding to sustain our gains and shut the gaps.
The latest report highlights the urgent must speed up progress in HIV prevention, an area where serious challenges remain. Prevention should be on the forefront of our efforts.
To effectively combat the HIV epidemic, we must break down the barriers that prevent access to preventive services, especially for marginalized populations. Key populations—including men who’ve sex with men, transgender and gender nonconforming people, sex staff, and folks who inject drugs—account for 55% of recent HIV infections. The Global Fund is actively working to deal with these challenges through initiatives like Breaking Down Barriers, which goals to eliminate stigma, discrimination, and other barriers that prevent people from looking for care.
One promising example of innovation in prevention is the introduction and distribution of dapivirine pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) in the shape of vaginal rings. These vaginal rings, which release antiretroviral drugs, offer women a discreet and effective approach to HIV prevention.
The Global Fund is committed to accelerating the distribution of PrEP rings to make sure women, especially those in high-risk regions, have access to this life-saving innovation.
We are confident that this latest PrEP ring has the potential to be transformative. Girls and girls have expressed their desire to have the ring, and there may be a number of excitement and work to be done to be certain that we shorten the timeline for introduction and support equitable access to those products to fulfill the 2030 goals.
The expansion of HIV treatment in sub-Saharan Africa is paying off. Fewer persons are getting HIV and fewer persons are dying from AIDS. Unfortunately, adolescent girls and young women in parts of the region will not be benefiting from these advances. In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls account for 62% of all latest HIV infections.
In a minimum of 22 countries in sub-Saharan Africa, the speed of recent HIV infections amongst adolescent girls and young women is greater than thrice higher than amongst adolescent boys and young men.
This needs to alter. We must prioritize protecting girls and young women if we wish to prioritize the longer term of those countries. We also must speed up investment in programs that support comprehensive sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially for adolescent girls and young women. We need to present them the tools they should protect themselves.
Alarmingly, infection rates have increased in three regions: Latin America, Eastern Europe and Central Asia (EECA), and the Middle East. In addition, key populations account for an increasing share of recent infections. This trend underscores the urgent must adapt our prevention strategies to achieve those most in danger.
Every minute, one person dies from AIDS-related causes. This grim reality is an urgent call to motion. Among children, only 48% have the virus suppressed to levels which are undetectable. A significant slice of all latest HIV infections—about one in ten—occurs when a lady passes the virus to her baby during childbirth.
In the fight against HIV, we must do a a lot better job for youngsters. By supporting national programs, now we have acquired the most recent pediatric treatment regimens based on dolutegravir at negotiated prices. Our investments in laboratory systems help be certain that vulnerable infants are tested quickly and those that test positive are quickly began on age-appropriate antiretroviral treatment. Diversified approaches to testing and treatment help close the diagnostic gap and ensure more child-centered service delivery.
The financial landscape for HIV funding can also be deeply troubling. HIV funding is at an all-time low, and national resources have declined for the fourth yr in a row. To turn this around, we want to mobilise increased resources and be certain that investments are strategically targeted towards high-impact interventions.
The Global Fund’s mission is rooted in a commitment to human rights. Ensuring that each one people, no matter their background or circumstances, have access to the care and services they need is paramount. We must work together to create environments where human rights are respected and everybody can live free from the specter of HIV.
The Global Fund stays resolute in our commitment to ending the AIDS epidemic. We call on all partners, governments and stakeholders to hitch us in redoubling our efforts, innovating and investing in solutions that save lives. Together, we are able to overcome the challenges outlined within the UNAIDS report and move closer to a world free from HIV and AIDS.
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