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More money, prevention and less repression of populations at risk: these messages will be hammered from Monday in Amsterdam at the International Conference on AIDS, to avoid a rebound of this epidemic that has 35 million deaths.
Celebrities like Prince Harry, actress Charlize Theron or singer Elton John – as well as 15,000 experts and activists – are expected from Monday to Friday at this high mbad, which takes place all every two years
Today, 36.9 million people live with the HIV virus, hoping it will not worsen in AIDS. Nearly three out of five are taking antiretroviral therapy to prevent it, the highest proportion ever attained.
The number of infections is declining and for the first time since the turn of the century the annual total of deaths has fallen below one. million in 2016 (990,000) then 2017 (940,000).
But paradoxically, these advances lead to a relaxation in prevention which, combined with a decrease in international funding, raises fears of a rebound in the epidemic.
last time I spoke here in 1992, I never thought I would come back 26 years later, alive and well, "David Barr, an HIV-positive American activist, told reporters on Sunday. the conference was held on the eve of the Conference.
But this success is "incredibly fragile," he warned, fearing that he would return to "the horror of 1992", with an outbreak of infections and infections. deaths.
At the forefront of concern the question of funding
"We are going to have problems if we do not have more money," US researcher Mark Dybul, a former leader of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, said on Sunday. [19659002Theworstcasescenarioaccordingtohimisthatthelackoffundingisaddingtoanexplosionofnewinfectionsbecauseoframpantdemographyinsomehard-hitcountriesparticularlyinAfrica
"Shuffle these two things together and you'll end up with major crisis, "he warned, fearing that" the world would lose control of the epidemic. "
– Budget cuts –
Last year, $ 20.6 billion were earmarked for AIDS programs in low- and middle-income countries, which in turn fund 56%, according to UNAIDS.
But the UN AIDS Mechanism estimates that $ 7 billion a year is needed for this disease to be It is a threat to global public health in 2030.
The community of researchers and badociations is most concerned about a decline in US endowments.
Since the election of Donald Trump, the United States, the first major contributor to the fight against AIDS, have planned cuts, which have not yet been achieved.
On the front of the epidemic, if the situation improves overall in the world, it hides strong Disparities.
Infections are on the rise in about 50 countries, for lack of prevention or because of repressive legislation against populations at risk (homobaduals, drug addicts).
This is why badociations urge international political leaders to stop repressing drug addiction and to give priority to harm reduction programs (provision of sterile syringes, consumption rooms, etc.)
"Say no to war with drugs, "says Coalition PLUS, a group of badociations, in a campaign that diverts a famous American drug slogan of the 80s.
It is titled" Just say no to the war on drugs ", referring to Reagan administration's "Just say no."
The war on drugs is "the best ally of HIV epidemics and viral hepatitis" and "led to a real disaster ", accuses Coalition PLUS.
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