Last year, almost 40 million people were living with HIV in 2023, the virus responsible for AIDS. Out of these, more than 9 million were not receiving treatment. As a result, someone dies from AIDS-related causes every minute, according to a recent U.N. report released on Monday.

Despite ongoing efforts to combat the global AIDS pandemic, the report notes that progress has stalled. Funding is diminishing, and new HIV infections are increasing in three regions: the Middle East and North Africa, Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and Latin America.

By 2023, total deaths amounting to 630000 are expected to occur due to AIDS-related cases, though this figure has been this figure has been reduced to 2 from the previous figure. 1 million in 2004. That being said, this figure is still over twice the goal of below 250,000 deaths by 2025, as per a UNAIDS report.

The report also underlines that global girls and women become more vulnerable due to the existing gender inequality, with an emphasis on such issues as HIV among adolescent girls and young women from some African countries. Concerning new HIV infections, the study shows that, in 2023, 55% of the most vulnerable populations in the world, including sex workers, MSMs, and PWID, were infected, compared to 45% in 2010.

The report reveals that the share of new global HIV infections among marginalized groups—such as sex workers, men who have sex with men, and people who inject drugs—rose to 55% in 2023, up from 45% in 2010. UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima commented on this trend and said, “World leaders pledged to end the AIDS pandemic as a public health threat by 2030, and they can uphold their promise, but only if they ensure that the HIV response has the resources it needs and that the human rights of everyone are protected.”

In their writings, leaders pledged to slash new HIV infections by 2025, an average rate of less than 370,000 per year. But the report suggests that in 2023, new infections will have risen over threefold and will total 1. 3 million.

Global Commitments and the Reality of HIV in 2023

According to the report, among the 39.9 million people worldwide living with HIV last year, 86% were aware of their infection, 77% were receiving treatment, and 72% had their virus suppressed. César Núñez, director of the UNAIDS New York office, highlighted at a news conference that while there have been advancements in HIV treatments, such as six-month injections, the annual cost of $40,000 makes them affordable only for the wealthiest individuals.

HIV in 2023
Image Source: Metropolis Healthcare

Núñez stated that UNAIDS has been urging the manufacturer to reduce the price of the medication for low- and middle-income countries. He also noted that there have been seven instances where individuals with HIV who were treated for leukemia showed no detectable signs of the virus in their systems.

Nez mentioned that both the injections and the seven cases will be topics of discussion at the 25th International AIDS Conference, which started on Monday in Munich. He also noted that daily pill treatment currently costs about $75 per person annually, a cost that has enabled many countries to expand access to treatment for people with HIV. Additionally, he emphasised that UNAIDS will persist in its efforts to advocate for the development of a vaccine to prevent AIDS.

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