AHF laments 1.5m new HIV infections, says war against AIDS not yet over

AHEAD of World AIDS Day tomorrow, December 1, the AIDS Healthcare Foundation ( AHF) has said it will commemorate the day with the theme, ‘ It’s Not Over’, to remind world leaders, global public health institutions and civil society bodies that much work remains if the world is to, one day, end the AIDS epidemic.

According to Joint United Nations Programme on AIDS ( UNAIDS), there were 1.5 million new HIV infections last year, one million more than the global target of 500,000, and an estimated 650,000 deaths from AIDS- related illnesses, which is why AHF is urging the world to re- light the fire in the HIV/ AIDS fight by putting an increased focus on Test & Treat and addressing late HIV presentation.

AHF Chief of Global Advocacy and Policy, Terri Ford, said: “We were glad to see the resiliency of HIV programmes worldwide during and after the pandemic. However, the latest UNAIDS data shows that the global HIV/ AIDS response needs reinvigorating, making our ‘ It’s Not Over’ theme even more relevant for this year’s World AIDS Day.

She said: “We’re calling on stakeholders and advocates in all countries to intensify HIV prevention, testing, and treatment efforts worldwide to slow the rapidly rising new HIV infection rates and protect the precious gains we’ve made. We’ve come too far in fighting HIV/ AIDS to let decades of progress slip away now.”

AHF has planned diverse live and virtual commemorative events throughout its 45- country teams to pay tribute to all who have lost their lives to AIDS- related illnesses and honour those who continue the fight. Advocates will also seek to refocus the world’s attention on HIV/ AIDS and the people globally living with or affected by HIV.