The United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) has warned that in spite of progress against HIV, the world was off track to meet its target of fewer than 370,000 new HIV cases by 2025.
UNFPA Executive Director, Dr Natalia Kanem, said this in a statement on Sunday on the occasion of the 2024 World AIDS Day.
The day has “Take the Rights Path: My Health, My Right” as theme.
Kanem emphasised that human rights were crucial in the fight against HIV and AIDS.
According to her, the path to a world free of AIDS begins and ends with human rights, including the right to accurate and unbiased knowledge, dignity, respect, and safety.
Kanem noted that fulfilling these fundamental rights had led to remarkable progress against HIV and AIDS, with new HIV infections falling by 39 per cent from 2.1 million in 2010 to 1.3 million in 2023.
However, Kanem highlighted that many factors contributed to the world’s failure to meet its HIV target.
“At least half of people with a higher risk of infection still lack access to prevention services, which breaches their right to the highest standard of health.
“Marginalised groups, including sex workers, transgender people, and men who have sex with men, are disproportionately affected.”
The UN chief emphasised that women and girls were twice as likely to acquire HIV and other sexually transmitted infections as men and boys.
“HIV risks soar where women remain marginalised by poverty and terrorised by Gender-Based Violence (GBV).”
Kanem stressed that a human rights-guided approach was essential to reaching everyone living with, at risk of contracting, or affected by HIV.
She added that it was time to work more closely with men to address their reluctance to seek healthcare, a significant barrier to comprehensive HIV prevention and treatment efforts.
“The UNFPA works with governments worldwide to integrate HIV prevention, testing, and treatment services into routine sexual and reproductive health care, particularly for adolescents, women, and key populations.”
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the World AIDS Day is commemorated on December 1 every year to show support for people living with HIV and remember those who have died from AIDS-related illnesses.
Oyo Govt. urges pregnant women to undergo HIV test
Similarly, the Oyo State Government urged pregnant women in the State to undergo HIV tests to determine their status.
In a statement issued yesterday (Sunday, December 1, in Ibadan the State capital, the Commissioner for Information and Civic Orientation, Prince Dotun Oyelade attributed the pregnant women advice to Dr Gbola Adetunji, Chairman, Oyo State Agency for the Control of AIDS (OYSACA), who spoke yesterday at a campaign organised to commemorate the 2024 World AIDS Day.
The theme of the 2024 World AIDS Day is “Take the Right Paths: Sustain HIV Response and Stop HIV among Children”,
Adetunji, who equally urged pregnant women in the state to register for ante-natal care, noted that Nigeria contributed significantly to the global HIV burden, particularly among children.
“Every pregnant woman in the state should undergo HIV testing at least twice during pregnancy, during antenatal care and labor, to determine HIV status.
“If tested positive, proper antiretroviral drugs can be administered to prevent the unborn child from contracting the virus.” he said.
The OYSACA boss further explained that “In 2020, according to UNICEF, Nigeria accounted for a substantial number of new child HIV infections worldwide, with an estimated 21,000 new infections, the highest globally.
“Nigeria has the third- largest HIV burden in the world, after Mozambique and South Africa, with an HIV prevalence of 2.9 per cent among pregnant women.” he said.
He maintained that ending AIDS entailed “prioritising and engaging everyone who’s living with, at risk for, or affected by HIV.
“This includes vulnerable and marginalised populations such as children, men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and people in prisons and other closed settings.
“This is essential to ensure an effective and sustainable response to HIV that honors the right to health.” he stated.
Adetunji admonished the general public to refrain from stigmatising people living with HIV/AIDS but rather support them and show them love.
He encouraged the general public to take advantage of the free HIV testing during the commemoration of World AIDS Day to get tested and work toward ending HIV/AIDS by 2030.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) quoted the OYSACA Chairman as saying people living with HIV could live long in good health, “just like those who are HIV-negative if diagnosed early with consistent antiretroviral therapy.”
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