fear of a rebound of the epidemic for lack of money

Prince Harry, actress Charlize Theron, singer Elton John – as well as 15,000 experts and activists – are expected this week at the 22nd International AIDS Conference, which opens today in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Scientists, activists, badociations, politicians will share the results of the latest research and take stock of the fight against the epidemic.

The number of infections down

The number of infections decreases and for the first time since the beginning of the century, the annual total of deaths fell 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 drop in international funding, fears a rebound of the epidemic. "The last time I spoke here in 1992, I never thought I would come back to it 26 years later, alive and well" yesterday launched David Barr, an activist American HIV positive. This success is "incredibly fragile" he warned, fearing that we come back to "the horror of 1992" with an outbreak of infections and deaths. [19659003] Concern about the financing of the fight against AIDS

At the forefront of concerns: the question of financing. "We are going to have problems if we do not have more money" badured US researcher Mark Dybul, former leader of the Global Fund to Fight AIDS. The worst case scenario, according to him, is that the lack of funding is adding to an explosion of new infections because of rapid population growth in some hard-hit countries, particularly in Africa. "Mix these two elements and you will end up in a major crisis" he warned, fearing that "the world will lose control of the epidemic" .

A disengagement from the United States?

Last year, 20.6 billion euros were spent on AIDS programs in low- and middle-income countries, which themselves finance 56%, according to UNAIDS. But the UN's AIDS body estimates that $ 7 billion a year is needed for the disease to be no longer 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.

More prevention and less repression?

On the epidemic front, if the situation improves overall in the world, it hides great 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 the badociations urge the international politicians to stop repressing the addiction and favor harm reduction programs (provision of sterile syringes, consumption rooms …)

"Say no to the war on drugs" pleads Coalition PLUS, a grouping of badociations, in a campaign that diverts a famous American anti-drug slogan of the 80s. It is entitled " Just say no to the war on drugs" with reference to "Just say no" ("Say no" to drugs) of the Reagan administration. The war on drugs is "the best ally of the epidemics of HIV and viral hepatitis" and "led to a real health catastrophe" accuses Coalition PLUS.