“We have invested massively in life saving antiretroviral drugs (ARVS), making our HIV treatment program the biggest in the world”, Deputy President Cyril Ramaphosa said in a ceremony marking World AIDS Day, held in the southeastern province of KwaZulu-Natal.
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The sad truth is that, AIDS has killed more than 34 million people since it was discovered in 1983 AND more than 37 million people are now living with HIV. Additionally, connecting people to the “prevention continuum”, in which people at high-risk for HIV infection are regularly tested, counseled and provided a variety of prevention options, could reduce the spread of the virus even further. “That goal has never been so close to realisation and it has captured peoples imagination and energy”.
If we truly want to deliver an AIDS-free generation then we have to stand with those it’s already impacting directly.
During a September UN General Assembly, world leaders set a target of ending the AIDS epidemic by 2030.
New cases of HIV/AIDS continue to grow at a steady pace each year, but those who are living with the disease have hope.
The Asia Pacific region has made enormous strides against HIV/AIDS in the adult population, with a 31& drop in new HIV infections between 2000 and 2014, and 28% decline in AIDS-related deaths between 2005 and 2014.
Linda Van Etta, MD, “Currently we have approximately 1.2 million individuals living in the united states with HIV; approximately 12 percent of those are diagnosed, but the majority are diagnosed”.
He said interventions such as prevention-of-mother-to-child-transmission of HIV should fully be implemented to ensure that no child born to an HIV positive mother gets infected.
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Health care workers are highly unlikely to be exposed to HIV on the job, the CDC says. HIV Alliance and Lane County Public Health are encouraging Lane County residents to do their part this World AIDS Day.
