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Some 18,000 scientists, activists, patients and politicians will debate from Monday (July 23, 2018) in Amsterdam ways to reduce the global HIV epidemic.
Initially, the Joint United Nations Program on HIV / AIDS (UNAIDS) was proposed in 2014 to halt the spread of the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) up to the end. 2030. But this goal seems unattainable. In some countries and regions of the world, "we see again how the epidemic is developing again," warned President Linda Gail-Bekker of the International AIDS Society
. It will extend until Friday (27.03.2018), it is the largest global gathering of experts in the field. This year is celebrated under the theme "Eliminating Barriers, Building Bridges"
Not only will new therapies be discussed and scientific developments will be presented, but it will also be debating the fundamental rights of patients: by for example, how can they access testing and therapies, especially vulnerable groups around the world.
Currently, 37 million people are infected with the HIV virus, which can cause the disease called Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (hence the acronym "AIDS"). Most of them live in Africa, nearly 60% of whom are already treated, according to UNAIDS.
One million stolen lives a year
Every year, one million people die from AIDS According to UNAIDS, there were 1.8 million new infections in 2017 Therefore, the interim goal of reducing the number of infections to 500,000 by 2020 seems unattainable. The same goes for the goal of reducing the number of deaths to less than 500,000 for the same year.
"We give the alarm," said UNAIDS director Michel Sidibé a few days ago. While there is progress in Africa, the number of new infections has increased significantly in some 50 countries. "The decline in new infections was most evident in the region most affected by HIV, Eastern and Southern Africa, where new infections have been reduced by 30% since 2010," UNAIDS said. In contrast, the number of new annual infections has doubled in Eastern Europe and Central Asia.
In Amsterdam, many personalities will support the fight against HIV / AIDS and denounce the stigmatization of infected people. Expected, among others, are former US President Bill Clinton, Prince Harry of England and pop star Elton John
EAL (dpa)
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