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At the conclusion of the World AIDS Conference in Amsterdam, former US President Bill Clinton warned against facilitating the fight against immunodeficiency syndrome. "There are still more than 15 million people living with HIV and receiving no treatment," he said.
Former US President Bill Clinton called for more testing and treatment for more people living with HIV. (Photo: KEYSTONE / EPA ANP / KOEN VAN WEEL)
(nda / dpa)
International cooperation and promising drugs can expect continued discrimination and an increasing number of infections in some parts of the world.
Uno has set the ambitious goal of ending the epidemic by 2030. But in about 50 countries, the number of people infected according to the Uno organization unaids. According to activists, the situation in Eastern Europe and Central Asia is particularly alarming.
Every year, there are approximately 190,000 new HIV-infected people, 80% of whom are in Russia. Only a minority of patients have access to medicines. Unaids estimates are slightly lower with 130,000 newly infected people per year.
Discrimination and hatred against sexual minorities play a major role in the spread of HIV and AIDS, including critic Elton John.
HIV infection can now be avoided or treated with drugs, but there is no vaccine yet. The results of a long-term study are promising, but there is still no breakthrough, researchers said in Amsterdam.
Testing More and Treating
International cooperation is effective in the fight against AIDS, Clinton said. But there is a risk that the commitment decreases. This could have devastating consequences. "We need to test more, treat more, and implement more prevention strategies – and develop what we know how to work."
There were critics on the last day of the conference for the US government. A program reinstated by President Donald Trump is jeopardizing decades of HIV prevention work. Supported by religious-conservative groups, this program reduces funds for US aid agencies when they provide information on abortions or offerings.
This also affects the US aid program Pepfar. Many organizations offer both HIV patient support and family planning information.
No Expected Decline in Africa for the Moment
For Africa, researchers are not expecting a reduction in the number of infections. The United Nations Children's Fund (UNICEF) estimates that between 2017 and 2050, sub-Saharan Africa will affect about five million people aged 0 to 19 years.
Two-thirds of new infections affect girls and young women. By 2050, it is estimated that the number of young people aged 15 to 24 in sub-Saharan Africa will almost double, but infection rates in this age group are slowing down.
About 15,000 experts from more than 160 countries and discuss strategies to fight the epidemic. The next conference is scheduled for 2020 in the US cities of San Francisco and Oakland.
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