The World Health Organisation has said that more countries around the world are preparing for validation of elimination of vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B, but financing remains precarious, while many high burden countries are still overly reliant on external support.
WHO Director General, Dr Tedro Ghebreyesus who made this known at the 12th International AIDS Society conference on HIV Science in Australia on Sunday, said new infections and deaths falling, but not fast enough and some countries and communities are experiencing rising HIV incidence.
He disclosed new data from UNAIDS and WHO released last week, which showed how countries including Botswana, Eswatini, Rwanda, Tanzania and Zimbabwe have already achieved the 95–95–95 targets, and at least 16 others are close to doing so.
WHO Boss congratulated Australia for the incredible progress it has made, and for its commitment to eliminating HIV transmission, also commended the leadership of the Minister, Mark Butler, in driving this initiative alongside Australia’s community, clinical and research partners.
He pressed further that since HIV was first identified over 40 years ago, that same principle, the right to health, together with the power of science and the voices of affected communities has been at the heart of the response.
Ghebreyesus said, “The advances we have made have not only turned the tide on HIV, they have supported the response to many other diseases, including COVID-19 and mpox.
“We welcome the important advances that will be presented at this meeting across the spectrum of basic, clinical, prevention, social and behavioural, and implementation science.
“WHO will also share updates on our work with communities to improve prevention, testing, treatment and care; On the role of antiretroviral therapy in halting sexual transmission;
“On understanding how best to treat the various health challenges that affect people with advanced HIV disease; And on how to strengthen health systems, based on a primary health care approach that delivers services, empowers communities and works across sectors.
“We will also share new analyses on HIV and COVID-19, and another that demonstrates a clear relationship between HIV and mpox, along with research reinforcing how communities were central in addressing the mpox outbreak”.
The DG noted that the world is facing multiple overlapping crises, including conflict, migration, climate change – which have implications for the response to HIV, especially for fragile and small island states.
He mentioned three priorities the world must work on: “First, we need to continue harnessing the power of science – from basic to behavioural science and everything in between – to develop new and more powerful tools, to maximise their impact, and to continue the quest for a cure and a vaccine.
“Second, we need to continue listening to and responding to the voices of affected communities in the design and development of tools and programmes; And third, we need to keep human rights central”.
WHO DG said “HIV has taught us – and COVID-19 and mpox have reminded us – that health is not a luxury for those who can afford it, but in the words of the WHO Constitution, a fundamental right of every human, without distinction”.