Global AIDS Response Is At A Precarious Point: UN Report

On July 18, 2018, UNAIDS released a report titled "Miles to go—closing gaps, breaking barriers, righting injustices1" as a part of global AIDS update report 2018. The report is a stark wake-up call for countries as it indicates that the global AIDS response is at a precarious point - partial success in saving lives and stopping new HIV infections is giving way to complacency. At the halfway point to the 2020 targets, the pace of progress is not matching the global ambition - for example the progress in Asia and the Pacific Region is encouraging while West and Central Africa lagging behind, as described below:

Progress in Asia and the Pacific Region

Asia and the Pacific Region have made strong inroads with their HIV response. Sustained and focused efforts to reach key populations led to significant reduction in HIV infections in Cambodia, India, Myanmar, Thailand and Vietnam between 2010 and 2017. However, epidemics are expanding in Pakistan and Philippines. on a brighter note, new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths have significantly dropped in India during the period 2010-2017.

The vast majority of new HIV infections in Asia and the Pacific are associated with current or former members of key populations and their partners. Unprotected sex between men especially young men, is an increasingly important factor in many of the regions' HIV epidemics; epidemics among gay men and other men who have sex with men are expanding in several countries. Key populations must remain at the core of HIV prevention. HIV risk among young people within key populations is of particular concern; since 2010, new HIV infections among young people (aged 15-24 years) increased by 170% in Philippines and 29% in Pakistan.

In case of Combination HIV Prevention there has been an encouraging increase in the number of countries offering pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), albeit mainly through pilot projects and at demonstration sites. By March 2018, PrEP was available on a limited basis to gay men and other men who have sex with men in China, India, Malaysia, New Zealand, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam.

West and Central Africa lagging behind

Only 26% of children and 41% of adults living with HIV had access to treatment in western and central Africa in 2017, compared to 59% of children and 66% of adults with HIV in eastern and southern Africa. Since 2010, AIDS-related deaths have fallen by a mere 24% in western and central Africa, compared to a considerable 42%...