The global health body also predicted that the continent was
unlikely to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.
However, WHO noted that the challenges notwithstanding,
Africa had made significant progress against the human immunodeficiency virus
(HIV) in the past decade, reducing new infections by 43 per cent and nearly
halving AIDS-related deaths.
In its message to mark this year’s World AIDS Day, WHO’s
Regional Director for Africa, Dr. Matshidiso Moeti said the world could not
afford to lose focus on the urgent need to end the inequities that drive AIDS
and other epidemics.
Matshidiso who noted that it had been 40 years since the
first HIV cases were reported, expressed regret that in Africa and globally,
AIDS remained a major public health concern.
‘Last year, two out of every three new HIV infections
occurred in the African Region, corresponding to almost 2 500 new HIV
infections every day.
Sadly, AIDS claimed the lives of 460 000 people, or a
shocking 1 300 every day, in spite of free access to effective treatment.
“The challenges notwithstanding, Africa has made significant
progress against HIV in the past decade, reducing new infections by 43% and
nearly halving AIDS-related deaths,” she said.
Matshidiso further said in the African region, 86 per cent
of people living with HIV know their status, while 76 per cent are receiving
antiretroviral therapy.
On the efforts to eliminate mother-to-child HIV
transmission, Matshidiso said only 16 countries have so far been certified for
eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission, none of which had as large an
epidemic.
According to her, Botswana seems to be the only country in
Africa that is on the home stretch to eliminating mother-to-child HIV transmission.
Matshidiso said: “Going forward, we cannot afford to lose
focus on the urgent need to end the inequities that drive AIDS and other
epidemics around the world. The continent as a whole is, however, unlikely to
end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030, after we fell short of the expected
75 per cent reduction in new HIV infections and 81 per cent reduction in
AIDS-related deaths by 2020.
“Despite the very high percentages of people living with HIV
who know their status, and treatment rates, new HIV infections and AIDS-related
deaths are not decreasing concomitantly.
“It remains critical for us to reach those who are fuelling
the epidemic, addressing the persistent inequities in the provision of quality
care and interventions.
“For instance, in West and Central Africa last year, key
populations and their sexual partners accounted for 72 per cent of new adult
HIV infections. Yet punitive laws, policies, hostile social and cultural
environments, and stigma and discrimination, including in the health sector,
prevent them from accessing services.”
Speaking further on the transmission rate, WHO Regional
Director said within the Sub-Saharan Africa, young women were twice as likely
to be living with HIV than men.
She explained that for adolescents aged 15 to19 years, three
in every five new infections were among girls who don’t have access to
comprehensive sexuality education, who face sexual and gender-based violence,
and live with harmful gender norms.
She said infections were more among the girl because they
have less access to school than their male peers.
She added that COVID-19 people living with HIV appeared to
be at elevated risk for virus-related illness and death.
“Nearly 70 per cent live in the WHO African Region, where
only 4.5 per cent of people are fully vaccinated against COVID-19,” she said.
Matshidiso advised governments to prioritise investment in
health funding for community-led, human rights-based, gender transformative
responses.
She also that global solidarity and shared responsibility are
critical components of the kind of rights-based approach we need if we are to
end HIV/AIDS and COVID-19.
“We must boost our essential health workforce, and secure
equitable access to life-saving medicines and health technologies.
“We must ensure that everyone, everywhere, has equal access
to HIV prevention, testing, treatment, and care, including COVID-19
vaccinations and services,” she said.
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