The global response to HIV has faltered and stalled with 1.5 million new infections occurring in 2021 - more than 1 million more than the global targets. Newly released figures also show that 650 000 people died from HIV-related causes while the number of people on HIV treatment grew more slowly in 2021 than it has in over a decade.
Dr Meg Doherty, Director of WHO Global HIV, hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections Programmes made the following call on the eve of the 24th International AIDS Conference which will take place both in Montreal, Canada and virtually:
"We need urgent action now and a full recommitment to our goals. New infections and HIV-related deaths are simply unacceptable and preventable. While we have all of the tools that we need to end AIDS there are 10 million people who have not yet started treatment and the gap in HIV treatment coverage between children and adults is increasing rather than narrowing."
WHO plans to share its latest scientific and normative work at the conference and will hold several key plenary and satellite sessions to present new guidelines, introduce the new Global Health Sector Strategies on, respectively, HIV, viral hepatitis and sexually transmitted infections for the period 2022-2030, and launch a new joint UNICEF-UNAIDS-WHO initiative on to end AIDS in children.
