Significant increase in HIV in nearly 50 countries | TIME ONLINE

Amsterdam (dpa) – About 18,000 scientists, activists, patients and politicians discuss ways to stem the global HIV epidemic this week in Amsterdam. Originally, the UN program against the Aids (Unaids) in 2014 had decided to stop the spread of the IH virus from here on 2030.

Meanwhile, the goal is considered difficult to achieve. In some countries and regions of the world "we are again seeing the epidemic continue to increase," warned President Linda Gail-Bekker of the International AIDS Society.

The 22nd World AIDS Conference that lasts until Friday, is the largest meeting of experts on immunodeficiency in the world. This year's motto is "breaking down barriers, building bridges". Not only will new therapies be discussed and scientific news presented, but also fundamental patient rights – such as how vulnerable groups around the world can access tests and therapies.

Nearly 37 million people are currently infected with HIV, most of whom live in Africa. Nearly 60% of them are currently being treated, writes Unaids. Every year, nearly one million people die of AIDS. According to Unaids, there have been 1.8 million new infections in 2017. Thus, the key step of bringing to 500,000 the number of new infections by 2020 seems unattainable. The same goes for the plan to reduce the number of deaths to less than 500,000 by 2020 as well.

"We give the alert," said the boss of Unaids, Michel Sidibé, a few days ago. Although progress has been made in Africa, the number of new infections in some 50 countries is increasing significantly. "The decline in new infections has been most pronounced in the region most affected by HIV, Eastern and Southern Africa, where new HIV infections have dropped by 30% since 2010," says Unaids. In contrast, the number of new infections per year in Eastern Europe and Central Asia doubled.

In Amsterdam many celebrities will support the fight against AIDS and fight against the stigmatization of infected people. Expectations include former US President Bill Clinton, British Prince Harry, pop legend Sir Elton John and Austrian artist Conchita.