Latest AIDS statistics verify need for sustained, comprehensive response
26. November 2009
Christian leaders in the Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance active in the response to HIV and AIDS welcomed the latest statistics on the epidemic indicating a decline in new infections over the past eight years, while emphasizing the need to expand comprehensive treatment and prevention services to continue the positive trend.
UNAIDS and the World Health Organization released its annual AIDS Epidemic Update on 24 November, indicating that 33.4 million people were living with HIV in 2008, up slightly from 2007. The higher figure is credited to increased availability to treatment allowing more people to live longer. Overall, the data indicates that new infections have dropped 17 percent over the past eight years.
“The statistics are a testament to the effectiveness of treatment and a concerted response to tackle the epidemic,” says Rev. Dr. Ishmael Noko, General Secretary of the Lutheran World Federation. “This should motivate us further to continue to expand treatment and achieve access to comprehensive HIV prevention, treatment, care and support for all women, men and children.”
Despite areas of progress, worrying gaps exist. Children still account for 2.1 million of those living with HIV, although the number of deaths have declined. The number of children newly infected with HIV in 2008 was roughly 18% lower than in 2001.
“Certainly it’s good news that the number of new infections in children are declining and there is more access to ARVs for children,” says Rev. Christo Greyling, Global Advisor on HIV and AIDS and Faith Partnerships for World Vision International. “But frankly, the question is why over 400,000 children a year are still being newly infected? We have the knowledge and services to prevent the transmission of HIV from mother to child, yet the majority of expectant mothers – 55 percent – still do not receive such services.”
The report also highlighted that as modes of transmission shift within countries – such as from injecting drug use to heterosexual sex – HIV prevention approaches have so far not been able to shift effectively.
“It highlights the challenge of HIV prevention,” says Manoj Kurian, Programme Executive for Health and Healing, World Council of Churches. “No single approach is effective, but we need to use the combined efforts of the variety of organizations involved in the response to raise awareness, share information and resources, and provide the support necessary for culturally appropriate and evidence-based forms of prevention.”
Msgr. Robert Vitillo, Special Advisor on HIV and AIDS, Caritas Internationalis, emphasizes that the report shows that “AIDS remains a global health priority that needs concerted effort. It’s complexity also means we have to address the root causes of vulnerability, encourage responsible behaviour, and promote universal access to health care and treatment for all in need.”
The Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance is a broad international network of churches and Christian organizations cooperating in advocacy on food and HIV and AIDS. The Alliance is based in Geneva, Switzerland. For more information, see http://www.e-alliance.ch/
