A report in ‘The Lancet’ reminds that HIV remains a threat

The report highlights that sub-Saharan Africa is the region with the greatest progress: new infections have decreased by 60% since 1995, and the population without a suppressed level of HIV (PUV) increased from 19.7 million in 2003 to 11.3 million in 2021 This reflects the positive impact of antiretroviral prevention and treatment strategies.

In contrast, Central Europe, Eastern Europe and Central Asia experienced a 116% increase in PUV between 2003 and 2021. The probability of contracting HIV in these regions also grew from 0.4% to 2.8% between 1995 and 2021, indicating setbacks in access to therapies and prevention.

Globally, annual infections fell from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.7 million in 2021, and AIDS-related deaths fell from 1.2 million to 718,000 in the same period. However, with more than a million new infections a year and a quarter of the 40 million people living with HIV untreated, the 2030 targets seem distant.

The study urges governments and international programs to redouble efforts in prevention, access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) and early diagnoses. It also highlights the need for equitable approaches to address disparities in vulnerable regions, such as North Africa and the Middle East, where only 45% of people with HIV achieve viral suppression.

“Although progress has been made, HIV infections and related deaths remain a threat in several regions,” says Austin Carter, a scientist at IHME.

To achieve UNAIDS goals, efforts must focus on innovative models of care, emerging prevention technologies and successful program scaling.

The study serves to remind us that the fight against HIV requires a sustained and global commitment to eradicate this epidemic as a threat to public health.