Egypt achieves record primary budget surplus of EGP 629bn despite sharp fall in Suez Canal revenues    Escalation in Gaza, West Bank as Israeli strikes continue amid mounting international criticism    Egypt recovers collection of ancient artefacts from Netherlands    Resumption of production at El Nasr marks strategic step towards localising automotive industry: El-Shimy    Egypt harvests 315,000 cubic metres of rainwater in Sinai as part of flash flood protection measures    Egypt, UNDP discuss outcomes of joint projects, future environmental cooperation    United Bank achieves EGP 1.51bn net profit in H1 2025, up 26.9% year-on-year    After Putin summit, Trump says peace deal is best way to end Ukraine war    Jordan condemns Israeli PM remarks on 'Greater Israel'    Egypt's Supreme Energy Council reviews power supply plans for 14 industrial projects    Egypt, Namibia explore closer pharmaceutical cooperation    Fitch Ratings: ASEAN Islamic finance set to surpass $1t by 2026-end    Renowned Egyptian novelist Sonallah Ibrahim dies at 88    Egypt's FM discusses Gaza, bilateral ties in calls with Saudi, South African counterparts    Egypt prepares to tackle seasonal air pollution in Nile Delta    Egyptian, Ugandan Presidents open business forum to boost trade    Al-Sisi says any party thinking Egypt will neglect water rights is 'completely mistaken'    Egypt's Sisi, Uganda's Museveni discuss boosting ties    Egypt's Sisi warns against unilateral Nile measures, reaffirms Egypt's water security stance    Egyptian pound closes high vs. USD on Tuesday – CBE    Egypt, Colombia discuss medical support for Palestinians injured in Gaza    Egypt, Huawei explore healthcare digital transformation cooperation    Egypt's Sisi, Sudan's Idris discuss strategic ties, stability    Egypt's govt. issues licensing controls for used cooking oil activities    Egypt to inaugurate Grand Egyptian Museum on 1 November    Egypt's Sisi: Egypt is gateway for aid to Gaza, not displacement    Greco-Roman rock-cut tombs unearthed in Egypt's Aswan    Egypt reveals heritage e-training portal    Sisi launches new support initiative for families of war, terrorism victims    Egypt expands e-ticketing to 110 heritage sites, adds self-service kiosks at Saqqara    Palm Hills Squash Open debuts with 48 international stars, $250,000 prize pool    On Sport to broadcast Pan Arab Golf Championship for Juniors and Ladies in Egypt    Golf Festival in Cairo to mark Arab Golf Federation's 50th anniversary    Germany among EU's priciest labour markets – official data    Paris Olympic gold '24 medals hit record value    A minute of silence for Egyptian sports    Russia says it's in sync with US, China, Pakistan on Taliban    It's a bit frustrating to draw at home: Real Madrid keeper after Villarreal game    Shoukry reviews with Guterres Egypt's efforts to achieve SDGs, promote human rights    Sudan says countries must cooperate on vaccines    Johnson & Johnson: Second shot boosts antibodies and protection against COVID-19    Egypt to tax bloggers, YouTubers    Egypt's FM asserts importance of stability in Libya, holding elections as scheduled    We mustn't lose touch: Muller after Bayern win in Bundesliga    Egypt records 36 new deaths from Covid-19, highest since mid June    Egypt sells $3 bln US-dollar dominated eurobonds    Gamal Hanafy's ceramic exhibition at Gezira Arts Centre is a must go    Italian Institute Director Davide Scalmani presents activities of the Cairo Institute for ITALIANA.IT platform    







Thank you for reporting!
This image will be automatically disabled when it gets reported by several people.



AIDS at 30: No looking back
Published in Daily News Egypt on 05 - 06 - 2011

We look back at the last 30 years of AIDS so that we can shape the future of the response.
About 65 million people have been infected by HIV (human immunodeficiency virus) since it was first reported — and nearly 30 million people have lost their lives to it.
Global reaction was slow at first. Then in 2001 world leaders signed the Declaration of Commitment on AIDS at the United Nations. The intervening years have seen goals set, breakthroughs announced, and progress made.
In 2006, countries committed to reaching goals towards universal access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support — today more than 6.5 million people are alive thanks to access to antiretroviral therapy. Investments for AIDS have increased by more than 900 percent since 2001. Prevention is working, with a 25 percent drop in the rate of new HIV infections.
The news has gotten better and better. New HIV prevention options such as Treatment for Prevention, CAPRISA gel — a female controlled microbicide, and iPreX — a pre-exposure prophylaxis — have emerged adding hope to people who want to protect themselves and their loved ones from the virus. Firmly held ideologies have in many places been replaced with compassion and doors have opened for dialogue. Evidence is being embraced by political leaders when making policy decisions. It is no longer uncommon for activists, communities affected by HIV and policy makers to plan together, ironing out differences and exploring new frontiers. The global solidarity for the AIDS response has shown what humanity can achieve when they get together.
We need more of the above, a lot more.
Today, the AIDS response is bursting at the seams. The demand for prevention and treatment is increasing. Opportunities abound — and we can seize them if we move on five fronts.
First embrace the benefits of Treatment for Prevention. People living with HIV can, for the first time, choose a method that is 96 percent effective and which they can initiate and manage with respect and confidence. Treatment for Prevention must be an option for all people living with HIV. But this should not have to come at the cost of the nine million people who are eligible and waiting for treatment for their immediate survival. Additional Treatment for Prevention must be made available.
Second, pregnant women living with HIV need to have access to the best possible treatment regimen to protect themselves and their children. Some 31 countries still use sub-optimal regimens to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV. In high-income countries few children are born with HIV. There is no reason why it cannot be the same everywhere. The life of a child and a mother has the same value, irrespective of where she or he is born and lives. We can eliminate new HIV infections among children by 2015.
Third, there has to be space for community dialogue and social transformation. Violence against women and girls, inter-generational sex, homophobia, gender inequity and criminalization of people living with HIV, people who inject drugs or sell sex must end. Without such transformation, HIV prevention measures will only be partially effective. This will require the leaders in village and urban communities and capitals to break the silence about these issues and act boldly, with conviction.
Fourth, AIDS investments must be made in full. This should be through a new shared responsibility agenda, where every country, rich or poor, puts in its fair share — no exceptions, no excuses. A deferred investment today will have a multiplier effect on investment needs in the future: a prospect no finance minister will like to face. At the same time, the health community must accelerate innovation in diagnostics and treatment, reduce unit costs, increase efficiencies and invest in programmes that work so that there is more value for the money invested.
Finally, the AIDS response has to integrate with broader health and development programmes. The AIDS response has to come out of isolation and become the catalyst for achieving the Millennium Development Goals related to health — especially reducing infant and maternal mortality as well tuberculosis. Health care delivery must not remain in silos.
As world leaders gather at the United Nations to discuss the future of the AIDS response, they have an opportunity to act on these five frontiers and set clear targets and milestones for the next five years. The 34 million people living with HIV and their families deserve nothing less.
Michel Sidibé is Executive Director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and Under Secretary General of the United Nations.


Clic here to read the story from its source.