Fight against HIV-AIDS: missed objectives, too slow progress

Text by: Simon Rozé Follow

4 mins

As the 23rd international society conference on AIDS opens this Monday, July 6, UNAIDS has just published its report on the state of the epidemic in 2019. If progress is noted, it is far too slow and the targets set were missed.

Publicity

There are the raw numbers: 38 million people were living with HIV in 2019, including 1.7 million new infections. 690,000 patients died; a balance sheet slightly down compared to 2018. Then there is the interpretation: progress, certainly, but far too slow. "  The targets set for 2020 will not be reached,  " writes UNAIDS in its annual report.

These objectives have a name: "90-90-90". 90% of sick people must know their virological status; 90% of them must have access to treatment; 90% of these must control their viral load, the amount of virus in the body.

From the “90-90-90” hoped for, you will have to be satisfied with the “81-82-88”. "  We will have to take decisive action every day of the next decade to put the world back on the path to ending AIDS in 2030,  " said Winnie Byanyima, executive director of UNAIDS.

► Also listen: Young people and HIV: How to improve prevention?

These disappointing results have a main cause according to the UN organization: inequalities and disparities in the world. If the situation improves in East and Southern Africa (38% fewer new infections compared to 2010), it is getting worse in Eastern Europe and Central Asia (+ 72% of new infections since 2010) but also in North Africa, the Middle East and Latin America.

Among the new infections, those who constitute the key populations pay by far the heaviest price. Globally, 62% of new infections indeed occur among sex workers, prisoners, drug users, and members of LGBTQI + communities, despite the fact that they represent only a small proportion of the general population. "  Stigma and discrimination, combined with social injustices, are barriers for these populations,  " notes UNAIDS. “  Marginalized communities fear violence, arrests and therefore have to fight for access to health services, especially those related to contraception and HIV prevention. "

Another example of the unequal facet of the epidemic, the place occupied by young women in new infections, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa. They represented 59% of new patients in the region. Every week, 4,500 of them aged between 15 and 24 are infected with HIV.

Funds moved to benefit the Covid-19

The cause of these mixed results is not to be sought very far according to UNAIDS: as often it is the money that is lacking. In 2019, $ 18.6 billion was spent to fight the epidemic worldwide: that's 30% less than what would be necessary to be fully effective. The situation is not going to get better on this front, since the Covid-19 crisis has diverted many funds towards it . "  We cannot take the money spent on one disease to treat the other,  " said Willie Byanyima. “  Both the fight against HIV and the fight against Covid-19 must be properly funded if we want to save a large number of lives. "

On the ground, the Covid-19 pandemic has also had a serious effect on HIV / AIDS programs and this could even intensify. UNAIDS thus takes the example of Latin America where HIV treatments, medical resources and medical personnel have been moved from HIV programs to those fighting against the coronavirus. This phenomenon could have dramatic consequences if it persists: "  6 months of complete disruption could lead to the death of 500,000 additional people in sub-Saharan Africa next year  ," the agency calculated. This would reduce mortality to what we knew in 2008, erasing all the progress made since then.

► Read also: In the shadow of the coronavirus, the threat of an AIDS explosion in Africa

Newsletter Receive all international news directly in your mailbox

Follow all international news by downloading the RFI application

• UN
• AIDS
• Health and Medicine
• Research
• our selection

On the same subject

Little and big history of epidemics

The origins of HIV-AIDS

In the shadow of the coronavirus, the threat of an AIDS explosion in Africa

South Africa: HIV and coronavirus, the double punishment