Global communities must equalize the HIV response, according to WHO

The World Health Organisation (WHO) is calling on global leaders to address the inequalities that are attached to AIDS to stop the disease from being a serious health threat by 2030.

Founded in 1948, WHO has pledged to achieve this by ensuring everyone receives the care they need and by diminishing any negative stigma that is attached to the condition.

This view has been echoed by global authorities – in 2019 former Health Secretary, Matt Hancock, stated he wanted to eradicate ‘HIV transmission in England by 2030’.

This week, WHO joined global partners and communities in commemorating World AIDS Day 2022, which adopted the theme ‘Equalize’ – a message highlighting the need to ensure that essential HIV services reach those who are most at risk and in need, particularly children living with the virus.

In 2021, WHO discovered 76% of adults who have HIV globally were receiving antiretroviral treatment, which stops the virus replicating in the body, whereas only 52% of children living with the condition were accessing it.

According to NHS England, there are currently around 12,000 children who have been infected by HIV, with the median age being 11-years-old.

As well as providing children with treatment for HIV, WHO have suggested urgent attention needs to be given to people who have been diagnosed with mpox.

Individuals that are living with HIV and are later diagnosed with mpox risk experiencing more severe symptoms, WHO has discovered.According to recent data, 52% of people with mpox are also living with HIV.

Dr Tedros Adhanom, WHO Director-General said: ‘With global solidarity and bold leadership, we can make sure everyone receives the care they need.

‘World AIDS Day is an opportunity to re-affirm and refocus on our shared commitment to end AIDS as a public health threat by 2030.’

Within their research, WHO found there are 38 million people living with HIV worldwide, with 5.9 million not receiving treatment. Additionally, a further 4 million people are living with the virus unknowingly.

Dr Meg Doherty, WHO Director of the HIV, Hepatitis and the STI programmes said: ‘People must not be denied HIV services no matter who they are or where they live if we are to achieve health for all.

‘In order to end AIDS, we need to end new infections among children, end lack of treatment access to them and end structural barriers and stigma and discrimination towards key populations in every country as soon as possible.’

Photo by National Cancer Institute