Ending AIDS Needs Both Prevention and a Cure

A poster about stigma in a HIV testing lab in Uganda. Credit: Lyndal Rowlands / IPS.By Lyndal RowlandsUNITED NATIONS, Dec 1 2016 (IPS)Eighteen million people, just slightly under half of the people living with HIV and AIDS globally, are now taking life-saving medication, but global efforts to end the disease still largely depend on prevention.While efforts to expand antiretroviral treatment have been relatively successfully, prevention efforts have been more mixed.With the help of treatment, mother to baby transmission has dropped significantly. Transmission between adults aged 30 and over has also dropped.However, transmission rates among adolescents have risen, causing concern, particularly about the high number of new cases among young women between the ages of 15 to 24.According to UNAIDS, a new report published last week, “shows that the ages between 15 and 24 years are an incredibly dangerous time for young women.”The report included data from six studies in Southern Africa, which showed that “southern Africa girls aged between 15 and 19 years accounted for 90% of all new HIV infections among 10 to 19-year-olds.”“Young women are facing a triple threat,” said UNAIDS Executive Director, Michel Sidibé. “They are at high risk of HIV infection, have low rates of HIV testing, and have poor adherence to treatment. The world is failing young women and we urgently need to do more.”The report also noted the countries that have increased their domestic funding f...
Source: IPS Inter Press Service - Health - Category: Global & Universal Authors: Tags: Aid Development & Aid Featured Gender Headlines Health TerraViva United Nations Women's Health HIV and Aids PEPFAR World AIDS Day Source Type: news