Today, 1 December 2014, people around the world are observing World AIDS Day to raise awareness of HIV/AIDS. The theme for this year’s commemoration is: “Close the Gap”, which provides an opportunity for intensive advocacy to close the gap between people who have access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services and people who have no access and are therefore being left behind.
Sub-Saharan Africa, the area hardest hit by the HIV/AIDS pandemic worldwide, is home to nearly 25 million people living with HIV/AIDS. Nine out of ten of all children living with HIV/AIDS in the world are found in sub-Saharan Africa. The negative impact of HIV/AIDS is evident as it affects every sphere of life. As parents and workers succumb to HIV-related diseases, the structures and division of labour in households and communities are disrupted and daily lives are affected, with women bearing much of the brunt.
However, significant progress has been made in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the African Region. HIV-related deaths have reduced as has the number of new HIV infections among adults and children. Today, more people than ever are receiving antiretroviral treatment in sub-Saharan Africa. In 2013 alone, 1.5 million additional people living with HIV were put on antiretroviral therapy, bringing the total number of people receiving treatment to more than nine million. As a result of the increase in access to HIV treatment, the number of people who die from AIDS-related causes has reduced.
These achievements resulted from the shared responsibility and solidarity of African governments and many partners through significant financial investment in the HIV/AIDS response. Drugs and commodities have been made more accessible in all countries, innovative ways of delivering services have been expanded, activism has promoted visibility of the HIV/AIDS epidemic and, crucially, people living with HIV have been at the forefront of the response.
The continued progress we have made so far gives hope that we can win the battle against HIV/AIDS, but much more needs to be done because significant gaps remain. Most people in the Region are unaware of their HIV status underscoring the need to expand HIV testing. Access to HIV prevention and treatment remains inadequate especially for many children and high-risk populations who are thus being left behind. A significant proportion of people still drop out of care and many national HIV programmes in the Region are heavily dependent on international funding.
I would like to use this occasion to urge all countries to close these gaps and prioritize the investment of more resources to help expand the HIV prevention effort.
Removing inequalities in and barriers to accessing HIV services, promoting HIV testing for all and following the WHO guidelines on providing early antiretroviral treatment for people living with HIV/AIDS are all vital. In this regard, interruptions in drug supplies should be averted to enhance adherence and retention and reduce drug resistance.
As we commemorate World AIDS Day, I call on all countries and partners to sustain and strengthen solidarity in the fight against HIV/AIDS in the African Region.