$19 billion invested, as AIDS kills 1.1 million people
- Author:
- The News (Nigeria)
UNAIDS’ 2015 reports on the fight against HIV/AIDS released in 2016 reveals that in 2015, there were 36.7 million people living with HIV globally while as at December 2015, 1 7 million people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy, up from 1 5.8 million in June 2015 and 7.5 million in 2010.
The reports revealed that 46% of all adults living with HIV were accessing treatment in 2015, up from 23% in 2010, while 49% of all children living with HIV were accessing treatment in 2015, up from 21 % in 2010.
Also, 77% of pregnant women living with HIV had access to antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of HIV to their babies in 2015, according to the report.
UNAIDS say new HIV infections have fallen by 6% since 2010 and that worldwide, 2.1 million people became newly infected with HIV in 2015, down from 2.2 million in 2010, while new HIV infections among children have declined by 50% since 2010.
“Worldwide, 150 000 children became newly infected with HIV in 2015, down from 290 000 in 2010. AIDS-related deaths have fallen by 45% since the peak in 2005. In 2015, 1.1 million people died from AIDS-related causes worldwide, compared to 2 millio in 2005.
“Tuberculosis-related deaths among people living with HIV have fallen by 32% since 2004. Tuberculosis remains the leading cause of death among people living with HIV, accounting for around one in three AIDS-related deaths. In 201 4, the percentage of identified HIV-positive tuberculosis patients who started or continued on antiretroviral therapy reached 77%,” the report said.
The UNAIDS report revealed that at the end of 201 5, US$ 19 billion was invested in the AIDS response in low- and middle-income countries (not including the countries that have recently transitioned into high-income categories).
According to the report, domestic resources constituted 57% of the total resources for HIV in low- and middle income countries in 201 5, while recent updated UNAIDS estimates indicated that US$ 26.2 billion would be required for the AIDS response in 2020, with US$ 23.9 billion required in 2030.
In the report, regional statistics in 2015 reveals that in the Asia and the Pacific, there were 5.1 million people living with HIV ase an estimated 300 000 new HIV infections in the were recorded in the region.
New HIV infections declined by 5% between 2010 and 2015 in the region while 180 000 people died of AIDS-related causes in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region decreased by 24%. Treatment coverage was 41 % of all people living with HIV in Asia and the Pacific.
The reports added that an estimated 3 million adults did not have access to antiretroviral therapy in Asia and the Pacific in 2015 as there were 19 000 new HIV infections among children in the region. Since 2010, there has been a 26% decline in new HIV infections among children in the region.
In East and Southern Africa, there were 19 million people living with HIV in eastern and southern Africa as women accounted for more than half the total number of people living with HIV, according to the report.
In 2015, there were an estimated 960 000 new HIV infections in eastern and southern Africa as new HIV infections declined by 14% between 2010 and 2015, while the region accounted for 46% of the global total of new HIV infections.
“In eastern and southern Africa, 470 000 people died of AIDS-relate causes in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of AIDS-related deaths in eastern and southern Africa fell by 38%. In eastern and southern Africa, 10.3 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, 54% [50–58%] of all people living with HIV in the region. 59% of adult women (aged 15 years and over) and 44% [41 –48%] of adult men were accessing antiretroviral therapy in eastern and southern Africa in 2015.
“Six out of 10 people on antiretroviral therapy live in eastern and southern Africa. There were 56 000 new HIV infections among children in eastern and southern Africa in 2015. Since 2010, there has been a 66% decline in new HIV infections among children in the region,” it said.
UNAIDS’ report further revealed that in 2015, there were 1.5 million people living with HIV in Eastern Europe and central Asia. There were an estimated 190 000 new HIV infections in the region. New HIV infections rose by 57% between 2010 and 2015.
In the same region, 47 000 people died of AIDSrelated causes in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of AIDS-related deaths in the region increased by 22% while treatment coverage is 21 % of all people living with HIV.
In Western and Central Africa, 6.5 million were living with HIV in 2015, while women accounted for nearly 60% of the total number of people living with HIV. It is estimated that 410 000 were infected with HIV in thergion.
“New HIV infections declined by 8% between 2010 and 2015; in western and central Africa, 330 000 people died of AIDS-related causes in 2015. Between 2010 and 2015, the number of AIDS-related deaths in western and central Africa fell by 10%. In western and central Africa, 1.8 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy; 28% of all people are living with HIV in the region. There were 66 000 new HIV infections among children in western and central Africa in 2015. Since 2010, there has been a 31 % decline in new HIV infections among children in the region,” the report said.
