The report was launched at UN HQ in NY (from right) UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot; Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund, Thoraya Obaid and Administrator of the United Nations Development Programme, Kemal Derviş
Credit: UNAIDS/B. Hamilton

Significant gains in preventing new HIV infections are being seen in a number of countries most affected by the AIDS epidemic. This is according to a new report released today by UNAIDS.

The report highlights specific examples of countries which are seeing changes in sexual behaviour followed by declines in the number of new HIV infections. Findings include increasing condom use among young people with multiple partners and encouraging signs that young people are waiting longer to have sexual intercourse in some of the most heavily affected countries.

However, the report also shows that despite the declines in new HIV infections the AIDS epidemic is far from over and that rates of new HIV infections are rising in many countries. AIDS also continues to be the leading cause of death in Africa.

2008 report on the global AIDS
epidemic

The report outlines that AIDS is a long-term issue requiring a response grounded in evidence and human rights and one that requires strong leadership and sustained financing.

The UNAIDS report clearly shows that stronger measures are needed to turn the epidemic around and that ‘knowing your local epidemic’ remains critical to an effective response.

The 2008 Report on the global AIDS epidemic is the most comprehensive report on the response to AIDS. It includes data from 147 countries against 25 core targets set in the UN declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS adopted in 2001, and the political declaration adopted at the 2006 High Level Meeting on AIDS. The information presented in the report enables readers to assess progress made since 2001 and identify the strengths and weaknesses of the AIDS response to date.