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Since 2008 – Progress Through Politics

World AIDS Day, Dec 1, 2013

photo AIDSribbeon.jpg

Let us take a moment of silence to remember all those who have died world wide, and renew our efforts to assist those living with HIV/AIDS and to prevent new infections.

From the World Health Organization:

   HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 36 million lives so far.

   There were approximately 35.3 [32.2-38.8] million people living with HIV in 2012.

   Sub-Saharan Africa is the most affected region, with nearly 1 in every 20 adults living with HIV. Sixty nine per cent of all people living with HIV are living in this region.

   HIV infection is usually diagnosed through blood tests detecting the presence or absence of HIV antibodies.

   There is no cure for HIV infection. However, effective treatment with antiretroviral drugs can control the virus so that people with HIV can enjoy healthy and productive lives.

   In 2012, more than 9.7 million people living with HIV were receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in low- and middle-income countries.

UNAIDS is targeting “Zero Discrimination” and has set 10 goals for 2015

   Sexual transmission of HIV reduced by half, including among young people, men who have sex with men and transmission in the context of sex work;

   Vertical transmission of HIV eliminated and AIDS-related maternal deaths reduced by half;

   All new HIV infections prevented among people who use drugs;

   Universal access to antiretroviral therapy for people living with HIV who are eligible for treatment;

   TB deaths among people living with HIV reduced by half;

   All people living with HIV and households affected by HIV are addressed in all national social protection strategies and have access to essential care and support;

   Countries with punitive laws and practices around HIV transmission, sex work, drug use or homosexuality that block effective responses reduced by half;

   HIV-related restrictions on entry, stay and residence eliminated in half of the countries that have such restrictions;

   HIV-specific needs of women and girls are addressed in at least half of all national HIV responses;

   Zero tolerance for gender-based violence.



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/ 11 Comments

11 comments

  2. JanF

    There were approximately 35.3 [32.2-38.8] million people living with HIV in 2012.

    I hope that a renewed focus on the plight of those with HIV helps UNAIDS reach its goal.

  3. anotherdemocrat

    One of the things I have to repeat the most when I’m fudraising for the Walk & the Ride is that AIDS hasn’t gone anywhere.

  5. JanF

    On The 25th Annual World AIDS Day, We Have The Tools We Need To Beat The Epidemic

    Sunday marks the 25th annual World AIDS Day, an international effort to raise awareness about the fight to eradicate HIV/AIDS. After a quarter century of activism around this issue, there’s been a lot of progress.

    Of course, we haven’t yet solved the problem for good. Although the ongoing work to develop an effective HIV vaccine typically inspires breathless headlines about a “potential cure in sight,” there’s still a very long way to go before we achieve that scientific reality.

    But even though there’s no cure on the immediate horizon for the HIV virus, that doesn’t mean we can’t beat AIDS. We’ve made huge strides toward preventing the spread of the virus and extending the lifespan of HIV-positive people, efforts that could eventually lead to an HIV-free generation even without a clinically approved vaccine. Here are the methods that can work, and could use some more investment:

    The ThinkProgress list:

    – Drug treatments can effectively prevent HIV-positive people from spreading the virus.

    – More comprehensive sexual health education can help eliminate the stigma around HIV.

    – Building a better condom could encourage more people to protect themselves against HIV.

    – Better medical care can help HIV-positive people live longer and healthier lives.

    As Dee pointed out above:

    In fact, the biggest barrier to beating AIDS isn’t necessarily the lack of a cure or the absence of an effective vaccine. As Slate’s Hugh Ryan points out, the key could actually be the fact that the HIV/AIDS epidemic mainly affects marginalized communities: the LGBT community, black women, and impoverished nations in the developing world. “If we can stop AIDS and have chosen not to, the hard truth is that it is because certain lives don’t seem worth saving: They would cost too much, or have brought it upon themselves, or aren’t our concern, or don’t even exist in our worldview,” Ryan notes. “Until we see every life as equal, we will never end AIDS.”

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