Community at the Center of Aids response

UNAIDS calls for greater urgency as global gains slow and countries show mixed results towards 2020 HIV targets

Impressive advances in some countries, troubling failures in others as available resources for HIV fall by nearly US$ 1 billion

ESHOWE/GENEVA, 16 July 2019—The pace of progress in reducing new HIV infections, increasing access to treatment and ending AIDS-related deaths is slowing down according to a new report released today by UNAIDS. UNAIDS’ Global AIDS Update, Communities at the centre, shows a mixed picture, with some countries making impressive gains while others are experiencing rises in new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.

“We urgently need increased political leadership to end AIDS,” said Gunilla Carlsson, UNAIDS Executive Director, a.i., “This starts with investing adequately and smartly and by looking at what’s making some countries so successful. Ending AIDS is possible if we focus on people, not diseases, create road maps for the people and locations being left behind, and take a human rights-based approach to reach people most affected by HIV.”

Report shows that less than 50% of key populations were reached with combination HIV prevention services in more than half of the countries that reported. This highlights that key populations are still being marginalized and being left behind in the response to HIV. (KEY POPULATION INCLUDES DISCORDANT PARTNERS)