ACHIEVEMENTS:
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Worldwide, the number of people newly infected with HIV peaked in 1996 and has since declined, to 2.7 million in 2007. These positive trends are mostly due to a fall in the annual number of new infections in some countries in Asia, Latin America and sub-Saharan Africa (UN MDG Report 2009).
- In only five years, coverage of antiretroviral treatment in poorer countries increased tenfold, resulting in the first decline in the number of AIDS deaths since the epidemic was recognized in the early 1980s (UN MDG Report 2009)
- The estimated number of AIDS deaths also appears to have peaked in 2005, at 2.2 million, and has since declined to 2 million in 2007. This is partly due to increased access to antiretroviral drugs in poorer countries (UN MDG Report 2009)
- Since 1996, annual funding for AIDS in low and middle-income countries grew 28-fold from US$300 million to US$8.3 billion in 2005 and an estimated US$10 billion in 2007. This increase in finance reflects growing political commitment and momentum to fighting HIV and AIDS through a mixture of prevention and treatment strategies (DFID).
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CHALLENGES:
- Infection rates continue to rise in some parts of the world, especially Eastern Europe and Central Asia. In those regions, HIV prevalence has almost doubled since 2001 — when the United Nations Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS was signed — and the number of people living with HIV has increased from 630,000 to 1.6 million (UN MDG Report 2009)
- Preventing children from becoming infected and mitigating the impact of HIV and AIDS should be straightforward. However, a lack of necessary investment and resources including adequate testing, antiretroviral drugs and prevention programmes as well as stigma and discrimination mean children will continue to suffer the consequences of the epidemic (Avert).
- Despite an overall decrease in the number of new infections, the number of people living with HIV worldwide continues to grow, largely because people infected with the virus are surviving longer (UN MDG Report 2009)
- For every new person that receives treatment (antiretroviral therapy), another six people are becoming infected (DFID).
- Despite the increased financial resources, there remains a large funding gap for universal access to a comprehensive strategy of prevention, treatment and care. Additionally within countries resources may not be channelled to the groups with greatest need – in particular those most vulnerable (DFID).
- As well as the funding gap, there is also an implementation gap. Gender inequality, stigma and discrimination continue to fuel the AIDS epidemic. Women and girls often lack the social and economic power to control key aspects of their lives, including sexual and reproductive behaviour or the use of services. And, people living or associated with HIV and AIDS often face denial of care, violence and loss of job or property (DFID).
- 57 countries are reported to have a critical shortage of health professionals. 36 of these countries are in sub-Saharan Africa. 4 million additional workers are needed worldwide – 1 million in Africa alone (DFID).
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