Sun Dec 01 05:24:34 UTC 2024: ## Global HIV Infections and Deaths Decline, But 2030 Elimination Goal Remains a Challenge
**Geneva, Switzerland** – A new study published in The Lancet HIV journal reveals a significant decline in global HIV infections and deaths. Between 1990 and 2021, HIV infections dropped by 22% and HIV-related deaths decreased by 40%, reflecting progress in the global fight against the virus. However, the study also warns that current trends make achieving the UN’s 2030 goal of ending the HIV epidemic highly unlikely.
The study, encompassing data from 204 countries and regions, indicates that while sub-Saharan Africa has seen a remarkable 60% reduction in infection rates since 1995, new infections are rising in Central, Eastern Europe and Central Asia. Despite the overall decline, at least 1 million people are still newly infected each year. The study projects that the number of people living with HIV could peak at 44.4 million in 2039 before slightly declining to 43.4 million in 2050. Currently, only three-quarters of the estimated 40 million people living with HIV are receiving treatment.
Researchers emphasize the need for strengthened HIV programs, including expansion of initiatives like the US President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) and increased preventative services. The study highlights the urgent need for new strategic efforts to accelerate the reduction of HIV incidence and mortality to stand a chance of meeting the 2030 target. For the first time, the study provides global estimates of lifetime probability of HIV infection and “unsuppressed viral load,” further underscoring the complexities of the ongoing challenge. Experts believe that only by accelerating prevention and treatment programs can the world hope to effectively combat this pandemic.
First Piper 