UNAIDS: HIV control gains threatened by rise in risky behaviour

published on September 23, 2013 in The Guardian

UNAIDS report applauds progress against HIV, but warns of unsafe behaviour in sub-Saharan Africa, faltering prevention efforts and a funding gap

Are we winning against HIV? The latest update from UNAIDS wants to say yes, we are. There is a lot of progress - a lot of ground has been won in the last decade and more. New infections are down and so are deaths, thanks to antiretroviral drugs which have now reached nearly 10 million people. But our grip on the pandemic sometimes seems fragile. Risky behaviour appears to be increasing in some countries - and the money to fund prevention efforts is never enough.

The good news is that the number of people newly infected has dropped to 1.9 million in low and middle-income countries in 2012, which is 30% lower than in 2001. There are 26 countries where the rate of new infections is dropping. So far so good. As the report points out, "opportunities to dramatically lower HIV incidence have never been more promising". We have the tools: drugs to keep people well also prevent 96% of the risk of infecting other people, male circumcision also lowers transmission rates by 60% and giving antiretroviral drugs to people at risk lowers their chances of infection.

Sarah Boseley
The Guardian
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UNAIDS: HIV control gains threatened by rise in risky behaviour

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