The World Health Organization, WHO, has raised an alarm that young girls consist of 37 per cent of all new HIV infections.
With 1 million people infected and 440,000 lives lost to AIDS in the African region in 2019, the World Health Organization, WHO raised the alarm that new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths were not reducing fast enough to meet the Sustainable Development Goal target of ending AIDS epidemics by 2030.
As the world marks 2020 World AIDS Day with the theme: ” Global solidarity and shared responsibility” the WHO Regional Director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Moeti disclosed that children living with HIV are not being adequately identified for HIV treatment.
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“Girls and women aged 15–24 years account for 37 per cent of all new HIV infections, and stigma and discrimination especially against key populations continue to create barriers to service access, Moeti stated.
Moeti said globally, there are 38 million people living with HIV and 67 per cent of them are living in the WHO African Region.
Moeti said the more than 1 million people in the region newly infected with HIV, accounts for 60 per cent of the global total.
Speaking on this year’s theme, she said the COVID-19 pandemic revealed the need for the world to come together, with determined leadership from governments and communities to sustain and expand access to essential services, including HIV prevention, testing, treatment and care.
She added that the pandemic was making it even more challenging for countries to provide these services, particularly in areas affected by conflict, disasters, outbreaks and rapid population growth.
“Despite these challenges, significant progress is happening in African countries. 2020 is a milestone year towards ending AIDS epidemics and 81% of people living with HIV know their status. Among them, 70 per cent of adults and 53 per cent of children are receiving lifelong antiretroviral therapy (ART). “Eighty-five per cent of pregnant and breastfeeding women living with HIV are on ART, which protects their health and prevents HIV transmission to their newborn infants.”
“For example, young people living with HIV in Zambia are advocating for the elimination of stigma, adherence to HIV treatment, access to sexual and reproductive health services, and mental health support. They are also contributing to the national COVID-19 response by creating and disseminating health messages, busting myths, and raising awareness.
“In Cote d’Ivoire, Nigeria and Senegal, women living with HIV are serving as community pharmacists, visiting hard to reach semi-urban and rural areas to facilitate the home delivery of HIV treatment and medicines for other diseases. They are helping to ensure that no one is left behind during the COVID-19 crisis.
“To sustain and accelerate the gains made, I urge governments and partners to come together, with the same level of urgency and leadership demonstrated in response to COVID-19, to increase domestic funding and strengthen health systems.
“There must be global solidarity and shared responsibility among all stakeholders to ensure integrated, people-centred, quality care and an uninterrupted supply of essential commodities for HIV services.
The rights of women and girls, and gender equality, must be at the centre to stop new HIV infections among girls and young women.”
