Impressive Progress Against HIV/AIDS Documented In UN Report
15 Lessons Learned
Are A Path To Ending AIDS By 2030
The numbers are impressive—new infections down by 35%,
AIDS-related deaths falling by 41% and both translating into 30
million new infections and 7.8 million deaths averted since 2000.
These are the figures in a new UNAIDS report on the Millenium
Development Goal on AIDS by 2015. “The world has delivered on halting
and reversing the AIDS epidemic,” according to UN Secretary General
Ban Ki-moon.
According to the UN, there are 15 million people on
retroviral treatment today—something considered impossible when the
development goal was established 15 years ago. In 2000, fewer than 1%
of people living with HIV in low to middle income countries had access
to medicines costing about $10,000 per person per year. Cost is now
down to $100 per person
Elimination For
Children
Also striking in the report is the success in halting
new HIV infections among children. Between 2000-2014 the percentage of
pregnant women living with HIV with access to antiretroviral therapy
rose to 73% and new HIV infections among children dropped by 58%.
UNAIDS estimates that by 2014 some 85 countries had less than 50 new
HIV infections among children per year. Cuba, the report notes, became
the first country to be certified by WHO as having eliminated new HIV
infections among children.
15 Lessons
Learned---How AIDS Changed Everything
UNAIDS simultaneously released a
report on 15 lessons it claims have been learned in
responding to AIDS. These lessons are viewed as critical to ensuring
the success of the new Sustainable Goals now under development and
which will replace the Millenium Development Goals. If addressed, the
lessons are a path to ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030, according to
the UN Agency.
The lessons are presented below, including two lessons
on Science and Data. These latter two lessons are described in more
detail. A link to the full report is provided below.
15. The Data Lesson
Overall
What gets measured gets done. Through data, a better
understanding of the epidemic has emerged and helped programs to reach
the right people at the right times in the right place. Since 2004,
the number of countries reporting their progress on HIV/AIDS has risen
from 53% to 92%
More specifically, the quality data on HIV led to:
a) Setting ambitious, measurable, and time-bound
targets for tracking progress and ensuring accountability.
b) Helping civil society create demand and enable
access to HIV services.
c) National ownership and capacity to generate and use
strategic information.
d) Prioritization of access to HIV services using the
population-location approach.
e) Evidence-informed approaches to HIV treatment,
prevention, care, and support.
14. The Science Lesson
Overall
Working together, communities and scientists have found
innovative solutions. There is hope that a cure and vaccine will be
found soon.
More specifically, HIV research has shown that:
a) When communities and scientists work together,
solutions are found.
b) Antiretroviral medicines have multiple uses—saving
lives and preventing transmission of HIV
c) Social research can uncover nonbiomedical
HIV-prevention tools
d) An HIV vaccine and cure are possible, despite some
setbacks
e) Increased understanding of HIV spurs discovery of
treatments and cures for other diseases.
For more details about the following lessons, access
the full report at the link below.
13. The Children and
Young People Lesson Overall
New
HIV infections among children can be eliminated and their mothers kept
alive. Young people have the potential to transform the AIDS response
and end the epidemic.
12. The Key
Populations Lesson Overall
Gay men and other men who have sex with men, sex
workers, transgender people, and people who inject drugs have made
themselves visible, heard, and counted.
11. The Women and
Girls Lesson Overall
Women’s rights, gender equality, and empowerment must be priorities
for the AIDS response. Programs that reduce poverty and violence also
can reduce HIV incidence among women.
10. The Security and
Humanitarian Lesson Overall
HIV must be integrated into national disaster
preparedness and response plans.
9. The Rights and
Social Justice Lesson Overall
Social justice is achieved when people’s rights,
including their right to health, education, and work, are fulfilled.
When people are treated with respect and dignity by health-care
providers, employers, and communities, new HIV infections and
AIDS-related deaths decline.
8. The HIV Prevention
Lesson Overall
There is no magic bullet for HIV prevention. People need options and
access to HIV prevention services that meet their life contexts.
7. The Treatment
Access Lesson Overall
Fifteen million people are on antiretroviral therapy,
but millions more still need access to these life-saving medicines.
The AIDS response has proven that access to quality healthcare and
adherence to treatment is possible in resource-poor settings.
6. The Civil Society Lesson Overall
Civil society was and continues to be the engine of the
AIDS response, driving the call for funding and research and demanding
access and the protection and promotion of human rights.
5. The Partnerships
Lesson Overall
The AIDS response created partnerships that have turned
heads and hearts—people from all sectors have united and contributed.
4. The Country
Ownership Lesson Overall
Health becomes a multi-sectoral issue. Local ownership
of the AIDS response created demand for high quality health services
and fostered innovation.
3. The Financing
Lesson Overall
Unprecedented investments in the AIDS response ensured that resources
went from millions to billions. Results followed.
2. The Advocacy Lesson
Overall
People demanded answers, resources, and a voice. People
have held leaders accountable.
1. The Political
Leadership Lesson Overall
Political leadership has translated commitments to
action and action to results. This has restored dignity and respect to
people living with and affected by HIV.
To access the colorful and dramatic complete 520 page
UNAIDS report, visit:
https://tinyurl.com/oma4y4x ■
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