Despite a remarkable reduction in the number of people infected with and dying of AIDS-related illnesses, 22 million people still do not have access to treatment, most of whom do not even know that they are AIDS positive.
UNAIDS made this startling revelation in a report launched ahead of World AIDS Day 2016, detailing how countries can reach the 22 million people still being left behind in the response to HIV.
UNAIDS in collaboration with UNIC and National AIDS Control Programme organised the “Media Briefing on HIV” here on Wednesday with the purpose to redouble collective efforts, to fast-track actions and close the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services, and people who are being left behind.
According to the report, in 2015, a record number of people had access to antiretroviral therapy and the numbers of people newly infected and dying of AIDS-related illnesses have reduced since the peak of the epidemic. However, 22 million people still do not have access to treatment or testing.
The report highlights a life-cycle approach to HIV that finds solutions for everyone at every stage of life and can address the complexities of HIV. Risks and challenges change as people go through life, highlighting the need to adapt HIV prevention and treatment strategies from birth to old age.
The key message of this report is that no one should be left behind throughout the life cycle approach in order to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals and end AIDS by 2030.
Speaking on the occasion, UNAIDS Country Director for Pakistan and Afghanistan Dr Mamadou L Sahko said that “on this World AIDS Day, we need to implement the UNAIDS Fast-Track strategy that aims to end the HIV epidemic as a public health threat by 2030.”
UNAIDS ensures its full technical and strategic support to work with all key stakeholders including the government of Pakistan, UN agencies, private groups, religious leaders, academia, media, and most importantly with civil society and communities to protect the rights of HIV-positive people.
He also highlighted key aspects to shared responsibility, broader ownership and wider accountability to meet the investment needs for responding in a sustainable manner.
NACP National Programme Manager Dr Abdul Baseer Khan Achakzai said that the government is committed to scaling up targeted and focused interventions through a location and population approach to reach out to vulnerable, marginalised and fragile communities to prevent new HIV infections and to foster an organised national response. He also focused on the need to scale up community-based HIV testing to bridge the gap between registered and estimated HIV cases.
Dr Achakzai mentioned that the government is providing free of cost HIV treatment, testing and counselling services in various locations throughout the country.
He said that in our culture religious leaders have a huge responsibility to bear and a positive role to play in reducing stigma and discrimination associated with HIV, as they are regarded as being sources of expert opinion.
Asghar Illays Satti representing Association of People Living with HIV and AIDS urged health care providers for extending their support to the HIV community.
UN Resident Coordinator Neil Buhne said that the “media has a very important role in the dissemination of HIV prevention messages” He also thanked the “government of Pakistan for their keen interest in the prevention and treatment initiatives.”
Thirty-five years since the emergence of AIDS, there has been real progress in tackling the disease. Since 2010, the number of children infected through mother-to-child transmission has dropped by half. Fewer people die of AIDS-related causes each year and people living with HIV are living longer lives.
The number of people with access to life-saving medicines has doubled over the past five years, now topping 18 million. With the right investments, the world can get on the fast-track to achieve our target of 30 million people on treatment by 2030. Access to HIV medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission is now available to more than 75 percent of those in need.