UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé presented the President of Xinhua News Agency, Li Congjun with the UNAIDS “Leaders and Innovators Award” in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the AIDS response.
Credit: UNAIDS

BEIJING, 26 June 2012—Li Congjun, the President of Xinhua News Agency, was awarded today the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) “Leaders and Innovators Award” in recognition of his leadership and contribution to the AIDS response.

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé presented the award to Mr Li in a ceremony at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China. The award recognizes the key role that leadership and innovation play in accelerating progress in the AIDS response.

With Mr Li at the helm of Xinhua, China’s all-media news group mobilized its public affairs division and conducted a global media campaign to promote public awareness of HIV. In the lead-up to World AIDS Day on 1 December 2011, the group placed HIV-related public service advertisements in more than 10 newspapers and magazines in China. Xinhua also showcased the World AIDS Day theme of “Getting to Zero” on a giant electronic screen in Times Square, New York.

“From a huge billboard in one of the busiest squares in the world to small community publications, Xinhua has promoted public awareness of HIV to millions of people,” said Mr Sidibé. “Mr Li’s bold leadership is ensuring that HIV remains at the forefront of public awareness. We count on Xinhua to be a brand ambassador for the AIDS response.”

“The award is a great honour not only for me, but also for Xinhua and even the Chinese media,” said Mr Li. “Xinhua, encouraged by such recognition and appreciation by UNAIDS, will further its cooperation with UNAIDS as part of its efforts to shoulder its social responsibility as an international multi-media institution.”

With over 30 domestic branches and nearly 170 offices overseas, the Xinhua news agency is the largest in the world. More than 40 of the organization’s news bureaus are in Africa. Last September, UNAIDS and Xinhua signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) of Strategic Cooperation. The global media campaign was launched as part of the new partnership.

China is a strategic partner of UNAIDS in shaping the future of AIDS. The country has invested heavily in Africa and its cooperation is key in helping the continent achieve important AIDS commitments by 2015. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will meet next month and is an opportunity for the two partners to deepen dialogue on cooperation over health and HIV.

Newest UN organization joins UNAIDS’ efforts to ensure greater access to HIV services for women and girls

GENEVA, 5 June 2012—The United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and the Empowerment of Women (UN Women) is the eleventh United Nations body to join the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) as a cosponsoring partner.

The official joining of UN Women as a UNAIDS Cosponsor, which was approved at UNAIDS’ board meeting today, will further strengthen the UNAIDS family’s work on gender equality and HIV and enhance collaboration with governments, international partners, women’s organizations and the women’s rights movement.

“UN Women is proud to join UNAIDS. We believe that the single most important strategy in dealing with HIV is empowering women and guaranteeing their rights—so that they can protect themselves from infection, overcome stigma, and gain greater access to treatment and care,” said Michelle Bachelet, Executive Director of UN Women. “We look forward to expanding our efforts in partnership with the UNAIDS family to address this epidemic.”

Gender equality and respect for women’s sexual and reproductive health and rights, especially for women living with HIV, are essential for an effective response to HIV. Persistent gender inequalities and women’s rights violations are continuing to render women and girls more vulnerable to HIV and prevent them from accessing HIV services. In 2010 there were around 17 million women living with HIV and HIV continues to be the leading cause of death in women of reproductive age.

“I believe we need to and can do much better for women and girls. There are still too few sustainable solutions available for women to protect themselves from HIV, violence and poverty,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “Partnering with UN Women will strengthen our efforts to promote gender equality and bolster women’s empowerment globally through the HIV response.”

UNAIDS will collaborate closely with UN Women in a number of areas including: addressing the intersections between HIV and violence against women; integrating gender equality into national HIV planning; and using strategies that promote the leadership and participation of women living with HIV, and women affected by HIV, in decision-making. UNAIDS and UN Women will also work on strengthening national institutions to enable them to deliver on commitments made on gender equality and women’s rights in the context of HIV.

“As a young woman living with HIV, I am heartened to see that UNAIDS and UN Women are joining forces against AIDS. I have experienced first-hand how enabling environments and rights-based services can empower women living with HIV to take control over our bodies and our lives,” said Helena Nangombe Kandali from Namibia. “UN Women becoming a cosponsor of UNAIDS is a positive step forward in supporting women the world over, particularly women living with HIV.”

UN Women, established by the UN General Assembly in 2010 brings together four distinct parts of the UN system which focused exclusively on gender equality and women’s empowerment, namely: the Division for the Advancement of Women; the International Research and Training Institute for the Advancement of Women; the Office of the Special Adviser on Gender Issues and Advancement of Women; and the United Nations Development Fund for Women (UNIFEM).

GENEVA, 8 May 2012—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) today launched a new campaign, "Believe it. Do it.", aimed at bringing attention and action to the global goal of ending new HIV infections among children by 2015 and ensuring mothers living with HIV remain healthy. 

Each year, about 390 000 children become newly infected with HIV and as many as 42 000 women living with HIV die from complications relating to HIV and pregnancy.

In 2011, world leaders at the United Nations High Level Meeting on AIDS committed to ending new HIV infections among children by 2015 and saving mothers’ lives. A bold new global plan was adopted and action is underway.

“We have an amazing opportunity to change the world,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS. “We have the commitment of world leaders but the clock is ticking and we cannot get from 390 000 to zero without you.” 

UNAIDS Goodwill Ambassadors Naomi Watts and Annie Lennox are among the personalities adding their voices and commitment to “Believe it. Do it.” In addition, UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador Whoopi Goldberg joined Blair Underwood, Denis O’Hare, Alexandra Wentworth, George Stephanopoulos and Sujean Rim to create a public service announcement for the campaign with the message “I believe children everywhere can be born free from HIV—Believe it. Do it.”

Under the premise that ‘every day is Mother’s Day!’ UNAIDS also teamed up with artist Sujean Rim to create a series of e-cards celebrating families. Through public service announcements, an interactive web site and social media outreach, the campaign asks the public to take three simple actions: 

1. Get the facts about ending new HIV infections among children  
2. Send a message about the issue and the actions people can all take
3. Support a mother through one of the great organizations working with families

The campaign will be featured ahead of Mother’s Day on 11 May on the American morning television show Good Morning America and the 30-second public service announcement will appear on CNN International, CNN Domestic (U.S. market) as well as other media outlets.

For more information visit http://www.unaids.org/believeitdoit/

In his report to the UN General Assembly, UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon urges stakeholders to redouble efforts to meet the targets outlined in the 2011 Political Declaration on AIDS

GENEVA, 30 April 2012—The United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon has issued his first report on HIV to the UN General Assembly since the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS. In the report, he highlights the urgent need to achieve immediate, tangible results and for the AIDS response to be smarter, more strategic, more efficient, and grounded in human rights.

“I urge the international community to stand up to meet the commitments it has made. I call for a shift from the perception that aid is charity to an understanding that it is our shared responsibility and a smart investment that reaps dividends for all. Together, we must foster a more sustainable response to the HIV epidemic for the sake of our common future.”

Substantial gains have been achieved over the last decade and ground-breaking scientific advances have encouraged leaders to talk about the end of AIDS. The report, ‘United to End AIDS: Achieving the Targets of the 2011 Political Declaration’, outlines that 2.5 million deaths are estimated to have been averted since 1995 due to the increase in access to antiretroviral therapy—and 350 000 new HIV infections averted in children. It also underscores the gains made in HIV prevention with new infections at their lowest levels since the peak in the mid-2000s. 

However, the report also warns that considerable gaps persist in access to HIV services, particularly for people at higher risk of exposure to HIV. Punitive laws, gender inequality, violence against women and other human rights violations continue to undermine national AIDS responses and declines in funding have the potential to jeopardize the capacity to expand access to HIV services and sustain progress over the coming years.

“The fourth decade of AIDS has to be marked as the decade that ushered in the end of AIDS,” said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). “We can make this a reality and seize the opportunity to secure a future free from HIV.”

At the 2011 High Level Meeting on AIDS, UN Member States adopted a Political Declaration on AIDS, providing a roadmap towards achieving the vision of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths. The declaration set 2015 as the deadline for achieving a number of specific targets.

Through the Political Declaration, UN Member States pledged to deliver antiretroviral therapy to 15 million people by 2015, eliminate new HIV infections in children, achieve a 50% reduction in new HIV infections among adults, reduce transmission of HIV among people who inject drugs by 50% and reduce TB deaths in people living with HIV also by half.

Countries also committed to closing the resource gap, investing between US$ 22-24 billion each year by 2015, meeting the needs of women and girls, eliminating stigma and discrimination and promoting the integration of the HIV response into broader health and development efforts.

In his report, the Secretary-General underscores that achieving the 2015 goals will require a redoubling of efforts from all stakeholders and that if smarter and more efficient ways of working are not applied to the AIDS response, the goals will not be met.  

The Secretary-General outlines a number of recommendations that need to be implemented to reach the 2015 targets. For instance, to meet the target of reducing sexual transmission by 50%, the report outlines that the number of new sexually transmitted HIV infections will need to decline by at least 1 million by 2015. To achieve this, HIV prevention programmes need to enhance efforts to reinforce, sustain and extend behaviour change by promoting gender equality and mutual respect, as well as better focus on where the new infections are occurring.

To reduce HIV transmission among people who use drugs by 50%, the number of new HIV infections must fall by at least 120 000 per year. The Secretary-General encourages stakeholders to summon the wisdom, courage and commitment required to implement strong, evidence-informed prevention programmes that empower key populations including people who inject drugs.

At least 180 000 fewer TB-related deaths among people living with HIV will be required to achieve a 50% reduction by 2015. To realize this, from 2010 to 2015, TB cure rates need to increase from 70% to 85% and rates of TB detection among people living with HIV must rise from 40% to 80%. Achieving the target would reduce TB-related deaths by 80% and save a million lives.

In his recommendations, the Secretary-General urges countries to undertake immediate, comprehensive reviews of national, legal and policy frameworks to remove obstacles to effective and rights-based responses. He also calls for new partnerships and a new approach for HIV investment to mobilize necessary resources. In 2010, a total of US$ 15 billion was available for the AIDS response from all sources. The report highlights that to reach the 2015 target of US$22-24 billion for the response to HIV by 2015 an additional US$ 8 billion will be required.

Report of the Secretary-General: United to end AIDS: achieving the targets of the 2011 Political Declaration

New youth-led recommendations to shape UNAIDS Secretariat’s work on HIV and young people

Youth leaders presenting the UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé (center) with a set of youth-defined recommendations that will guide the UNAIDS Secretariat’s work on HIV and young people through 2015.
Credit: UNAIDS/P.Ekepei

ABUJA, 24 April 2012—Youth leaders from around the world today presented a set of youth-defined recommendations that will guide the UNAIDS Secretariat’s work on HIV and young people through 2015. The recommendations were received by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé at an event in the Paiko community near Abuja, organized together with Nigerian youth leaders and government officials.

Based on the voices and views of more than 5000 young people from 79 countries, the recommendations resulted from CrowdOutAIDS, an innovative youth-led policy project initiated by UNAIDS. Leveraging crowdsourcing technology and new media tools, the five-month project enabled young people to fully participate in the development of strategic recommendations for the UNAIDS Secretariat’s youth agenda.

“I am so impressed by the dedication, energy and enthusiasm that young people have shown through the CrowdOutAIDS initiative,” said Mr Sidibé. “The recommendations they have presented to UNAIDS will help us mobilize a new generation of young leaders and we will work together to stop new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths.”

Presenting the recommendations to UNAIDS, Gabriel Adeyemo, a young Nigerian activist, described CrowdOutAIDS as a ‘high level meeting’—but ‘by and for’ young people. “It brought decision-making to the grassroots, to the skilled and unskilled, learned and unlearned, rich and poor, to contribute to an issue that affects all our lives: HIV," said Adeyemo, who is also the West Africa focal point for the Global Youth Coalition on HIV/AIDS.

Globally, an estimated five million young people (15-24 years of age) are living with HIV. About 3000 young people are newly infected with HIV each day. According to recent surveys in low- and middle-income countries, only 24% of young women and 36% of young men responded correctly when asked questions on HIV prevention and transmission.

Through CrowdOutAIDS, young people proposed six key recommendations for the UNAIDS Secretariat, including:

1. Strengthen young people’s skills for effective leadership at all levels of the AIDS response;
2. Ensure the full participation of youth in the AIDS response at country, regional, and global levels;
3. Improve young people’s access to HIV-related information;
4. Diversify and strengthen strategic networks between the UNAIDS Secretariat, youth networks, and other key players;
5. Increase the UNAIDS Secretariat’s outreach to both formal and informal networks of young people; and,
6. Increase young people’s access to financial support.

“We have worked together, using the simplest tools—each one of us in their own corner of the world—to create spaces of exchange and draft this important document in real-time, public online sessions,” said Zahra Benyahia, a CrowdOutAIDS drafting committee member. “This is not the end. It’s the first step toward revolutionary youth leadership in the AIDS response.”

The full set of recommendations are presented in Strategy recommendations for collaborating with a new generation of leaders in the AIDS response—the first-ever “crowdsourced” AIDS-related document in UN history. The recommendations, together with an internal organizational assessment on HIV and young people, will inform the UNAIDS Secretariat’s New Generation Leadership Strategy.

Dr Ibahim Assane Mayaki, CEO of NEPAD and UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé signing the collaboration agreement at the Africa Union Headquarters in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia 27 March 2012.
Credit: UNAIDS/Jiro Ose

ADDIS ABABA, 27 March 2012—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) Agency today signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) calling for strategic collaboration to advance sustainable responses to HIV, health and development across the African continent. The MoU was signed by UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Agency, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki, on the sidelines of a colloquium marking the 10^th anniversary of NEPAD in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Under the terms of the agreement, UNAIDS and the NEPAD Agency will work with partners to: support the development of common African positions for the AIDS response, with an emphasis on sustainable financing; address constraints in access to HIV medicines; facilitate policies and partnerships to eliminate new HIV infections in children and improve the health of mothers; enhance country ownership and accountability; and encourage South-South cooperation.

“This new partnership will bring us one step closer to our goal of zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths,” said the UNAIDS Executive Director, at a press conference on 27 March after the signing of the MoU. Mr Sidibé said that “getting to zero” would demand effective and inclusive partnerships, shared responsibility, greater transparency and a focus on results—areas in which NEPAD is known to excel.

Speaking alongside Mr Sidibé at the press conference, Dr Ibrahim Mayaki said that country ownership would be critical to advancing AIDS and development responses in the coming decade. “Partnerships for development can only succeed if they are led by developing countries,” said the Chief Executive Officer of NEPAD Agency. “AIDS programmes must be financially sustainable over the long term and tailored to specific national settings,” he added.

Sub-Saharan Africa carries the highest HIV burden of any region in the world. In 2010, about 68% of all people living with HIV resided in sub-Saharan Africa, a region with only 12% of the global population.

About two-thirds of all AIDS investments in Africa currently come from external sources. According to UNAIDS estimates, Africa will require between US$ 11-12 billion for its regional AIDS response by 2015—US$ 3-4 billion more than the current expenditure.

GENEVA, 20 February 2012—The Government of the Republic of Bénin, in collaboration with UNAIDS, UNICEF, WHO, UNFPA and partners, today launched a national plan aimed at eliminating new HIV infections among children and improving the health of their mothers.

“This plan will contribute to satisfying the quality requirements for the care of pregnant women living with HIV, their children and their families,” said Bénin’s Minister of Health, Prof. Dorothée Kindé-Gazard, speaking today at an official ceremony in Cotonou hosted by the President of Bénin, Dr Thomas Yayi Boni. “It will make it possible to harmonize services that prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV throughout the country and to better coordinate the interventions.”

According to government estimates, approximately 62 000 people are living with HIV in Bénin. Between 2004 and 2011, the number of health facilities offering services that prevent new HIV infections in children expanded from 204 to 450. Despite progress, only about half (49%) of pregnant women eligible for HIV services are currently receiving them.

In June 2011, Bénin signed on to the Global Plan towards the elimination of new HIV infections among children by 2015 and keeping their mothers alive. As part of this effort, the national plan aims to ensure that all pregnant women living with HIV have access to HIV prevention and treatment services, and that new HIV infections among children are eliminated.

“I applaud the vision, commitment and will of Bénin’s political leadership—in particular the Minister of Health—to ensure that in the coming years, we will see that no child in Bénin is born with HIV and that all mothers remain healthy and alive,” said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, who also attended today’s ceremony.

The expected impact of the plan for the period 2012 to 2015:

1. A 90% reduction in the number of new HIV infections among children.
2. A 90% reduction in the number of AIDS-related deaths among children.
3. A 50% reduction in the number of AIDS-related deaths among mothers in the
   12-month post-partum period.

A number of strategies will be employed to reach these goals, such as: ensuring access to comprehensive services that prevent new HIV infections among children at all maternity hospitals across the country; ensuring access to treatment for all pregnant women who are eligible for antiretroviral therapy; expanding access to voluntary HIV testing and counselling; strengthening access to male and female condoms, especially among young people; and public advocacy campaigns.

From left to right: UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, former president of Botswana, Mr Festus Gontebanye Mogae, Ambassador Eric Goosby, United States Global AIDS Coordinator call for accelerated access to voluntary medical male circumcision in eastern and southern Africa, at ICASA 2011. 5 December 2011.
Credit: UNAIDS/ P. Wiggers

ADDIS ABABA, 5 December 2011—The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) and the U.S. President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) today launched a five-year action framework to accelerate the scale-up of voluntary medical male circumcision (VMMC) for HIV prevention. The framework—developed by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS, PEFPAR, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and the World Bank in consultation with national Ministries of Health—calls for the immediate roll-out and expansion of VMMC services in 14 priority countries of eastern and southern Africa.

“Voluntary medical male circumcision is a high-impact and cost-effective prevention tool that will bring us one step closer to our goal of an HIV-free generation," said UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé, who unveiled the action framework at the 16th International Conference on AIDS and STIs in Africa (ICASA), together with partners. “Each HIV infection averted is money in the bank and fiscal space for the future,” he added. Joining Mr Sidibé at the launch in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, were the U.S. Global AIDS Coordinator Dr Eric Goosby and the former President of Botswana, Festus Mogae.

There is compelling evidence that VMMC, when provided by well-trained health professionals, reduces the risk of sexual transmission of HIV from women to men by approximately 60 per cent. Since 2007, WHO and UNAIDS have urged countries with high HIV prevalence and low levels of male circumcision to expand access to safe VMMC services.

VMMC offers excellent value for money. Recent modelling commissioned by PEPFAR and UNAIDS found that reaching 80% coverage of adult VMMC in the 14 priority countries would entail performing approximately 20 million circumcisions on men aged 15-49 by the year 2015. Such a scale-up would cost a total of US$1.5 billion and would result in a net savings of US$16.5 billion by 2025 due to averted treatment and care costs. An estimated 3.4 million new HIV infections would be averted through 2025.

To date, the scale-up of VMMC has been modest in most countries. According to the joint framework, more than 550 000 men aged 15-49 had been circumcised in the 14 priority countries by the end of 2010. The greatest success in scaling up adult VMMC has occurred in Kenya, particularly in Nyanza Province. While progress in implementing VMMC programmes has been more limited in the other priority countries, nearly all countries saw the pace of scale-up quicken in 2010.

Acknowledging the important role of country ownership and accountability in health systems, U.S. Global AIDS Ambassador Dr Eric Goosby stated, “PEPFAR strongly supports heightened and immediate national ownership in all priority countries to implement safe, efficient voluntary medical male circumcision scale-up strategies. VMMC offers men an unprecedented opportunity to assume a proactive role in reducing their risk of contracting HIV, empowering them to protect their health and the health of their partners."

The new framework proposes strategic and coordinated action among partners at local, national and global levels to harness resources and focus on reaching adult and adolescent men with VMMC services as quickly and safely as possible. It underscores that country leadership is critical to the success and sustainability of this initial phase of VMMC programmes. The longer-term goal is to offer VMMC for all infants in the priority countries—replacing the need for adolescent and adult VMMC.

Innovation in service delivery, supply chain logistics, human resource deployment and medical devices is encouraged to improve efficiency, access, and safety, while creating demand for VMMC services. The framework urges governments in the 14 priority countries to seek funding from a range of domestic and international sources—with a view, over time, to a greater reliance on national on and local resources.

Speaking at today’s press briefing, Mr Festus Mogae called on leaders to support and scale up VMMC programmes in the 14 priority countries. “Strong collaboration between political, traditional and religious leadership will be critical to the safe and effective scale up of VMMC services,” said Mr Mogae, who is the chairman of Champions for an HIV-Free Generation, a non-governmental organization. “The key role of religious and traditional leaders is to ensure that there is a working partnership with the communities so that while the circumcision is done medically as an add-on HIV prevention strategy, it still retains its religious or cultural significance to the communities,” he added.

VMMC is an important component of a comprehensive HIV prevention package. WHO, UNAIDS and PEPFAR recommend a combination approach to HIV prevention that includes the correct and consistent use of male and female condoms; treatment for sexually transmitted infections; the promotion of safer sexual practices such as avoidance of penetrative sex; the provision of antiretroviral therapy for HIV-positive people who are eligible for treatment; and voluntary medical male circumcision in certain settings. 

VMMC is a life-saving HIV intervention with major cost benefits. A one-time health intervention, VMMC confers life-long partial protection against HIV. The joint framework launched today embraces urgent and widespread scale-up of VMMC in all priority countries through a coordinated, country-driven effort.

China calls for shared responsibility in achieving zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination, zero AIDS-related deaths

UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé and China’s Premier H.E. Wen Jiabao at a World AIDS Day event in Beijing.

BEIJING/GENEVA, 1 December 2011—China has pledged to fill its HIV resource gap by increasing domestic investments. This pledge was made China’s Premier H.E. Wen Jiabao at a World AIDS Day event in Beijing. The Premier also called on the international community to fully meet its commitments and achieve a world with zero new HIV infections, zero discrimination and zero AIDS-related deaths.

“I see no reason for the Global Fund to withdraw its support to China,” said Premier Wen Jiabao at the AIDS roundtable in Beijing. “I have asked the Minister of Finance to close the gap left by the Global Fund. We will rely on our own efforts.”

This new commitment from China comes at a crucial moment as resources for AIDS are declining and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria is facing a major setback in resource mobilization, leading to the cancellation of its next call for country proposals (Round 11), putting millions of lives at risk. 

"China's voice could not have come at a more critical time in the AIDS response. We are in a period of high risk and welcome this bold decision," said Michel Sidibé, Executive Director of UNAIDS, when thanking the Premier of China. "I am confident that a new socially sustainable agenda can be forged that promotes country ownership and shared responsibility.”

More than 6.6 million people are on HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries and rates of new HIV infections have fallen in most parts of the world. Domestic investments have steadily increased, but the magnitude of the epidemic in Africa means that continued international solidarity and investments are vital.

“Getting Round 11 back on track is a top priority especially as Africa is leading the world in reducing new HIV infections and AIDS-related deaths. Its international partners must come forward and help countries multiply their success,” said Mr Sidibé. “This call is not just about shared responsibility but also of shared values.”

China has scaled up its AIDS response in a short timespan, including its evidence-informed HIV prevention services. By rapidly scaling up access to drug substitution therapies, it has reduced new HIV infections among people using these services to close to zero. China has also made important advances in its anti-discrimination programmes and support for civil society organizations. 

“To defeat AIDS, it will take the whole society,” said Premier Wen Jiabao. “China is willing to play its part.” China’s rapid scale up model can be replicated in other countries—especially in strengthening the capacity of community health workers to deliver HIV services. In addition, China can provide vital technology transfer in key areas of innovation of HIV treatment, including development of new antiretroviral medicines, investing in research and development, telecommunications, e-health infrastructure and supply chain management.

GENEVA, 30 November 2011—Global progress in both preventing and treating HIV emphasizes the benefits of sustaining investment in HIV/AIDS over the longer term. The latest report by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNICEF and UNAIDS Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Response indicates that increased access to HIV services  resulted in a 15% reduction of new infections over the past decade and a 22% decline in AIDS-related deaths in the last five years.

"It has taken the world ten years to achieve this level of momentum," says Gottfried Hirnschall, Director of WHO's HIV Department. "There is now a very real possibility of getting ahead of the epidemic. But this can only be achieved by both sustaining and accelerating this momentum over the next decade and beyond."

Advances in HIV science and programme innovations over the past year add hope for future progress. In times of economic austerity it will be essential to rapidly apply new science, technologies and approaches to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of HIV programmes in countries.

The report highlights what is already working:

• Improved access to HIV testing services enabled 61% of pregnant women in eastern and southern Africa to receive testing and counseling for HIV - up from 14% in 2005.
• Close to half (48%) of pregnant women in need receive effective medicines to prevent mother-to-child transmission of HIV (PMTCT) in 2010.
• Antiretroviral therapy (ART), which not only improves the health and well-being of people living with HIV but also stops further HIV transmission, is available now for 6.65 million people in low- and middle-income countries, accounting for 47% of the 14.2 million people eligible to receive it.

When people are healthier, they are better able to cope financially. The report acknowledges that investment in HIV services could lead to total gains of up to US$ 34 billion by 2020 in increased economic activity and productivity, more than offsetting the costs of ART programmes.

“2011 has been a game changing year. With new science, unprecedented political leadership and continued progress in the AIDS response, countries have a window of opportunity to seize this momentum and take their responses to the next level,” said Paul De Lay, Deputy Executive Director, Programme, UNAIDS. “By investing wisely, countries can increase efficiencies, reduce costs and improve on results. However, gains made to date are being threatened by a decline in resources for AIDS.”

The report also points to what still needs to be done:

• More than half of the people who need antiretroviral therapy in low- and middle-income countries are still unable to access it. Many of them do not even know that they have HIV.
• Despite the growing body of evidence as to what countries need to focus on to make a real impact on their epidemics, some are still not tailoring their programmes for those who are most at risk and in need. In many cases, groups including adolescent girls, people who inject drugs, men who have sex with men, transgender people, sex workers, prisoners and migrants remain unable to access HIV prevention and treatment services.

Worldwide, the vast majority (64%) of people aged 15-24 living with HIV today are female. The rate is even higher in sub-Saharan Africa where girls and young women make up 71% of all young people living with HIV - essentially because prevention strategies are not reaching them.

Key populations are continually marginalized. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia, more than 60% of those living with HIV are people who inject drugs. But injecting drug users account for only 22% of those receiving ART. 

Although better services to prevent mother to child transmission of HIV have averted some 350 000 new infections among children, some 3.4 million children are living with HIV - many of whom lack HIV treatment. Only about one in four children in need of HIV treatment in low- and middle-income countries received it in 2010, as compared to 1 in 2 adults.

“While there have been gains in treatment, care and support available to adults, we note that progress for children is slower,” says Leila Pakkala, Director of the UNICEF Office in Geneva.  “The coverage of HIV interventions for children remains alarmingly low. Through concerted action and equity-focused strategies, we must make sure that global efforts are working for children as well as adults”.

HIV in regions and countries

In 2010, HIV epidemics and responses in different parts of the world vary with shifting trends, progress rates and outcomes.

Sub-Saharan Africa recorded the biggest overall annual increase--30%--in the number of people accessing ART. Three countries (Botswana, Namibia and Rwanda) have achieved universal coverage (80%) for HIV prevention, treatment and care services. The regional ART coverage rate stood at 49% at the end of 2010. Approximately 50% of pregnant women living with HIV receive treatment to prevent mother-to child transmission of HIV. And 21% of children in need are able to get paediatric HIV treatments. There were 1.9 million new infections in the region, where 22.9 million people are living with HIV. There are some major disparities in progress between different parts of the region. Countries in Eastern and Southern Africa have reached much higher coverage rates for ART (56%) and PMTCT (64%) than countries in Western and Central Africa (30% and 18% respectively).

Asia shows a stabilizing epidemic overall, but new infections are very high in some communities. Of the 4.8 million people living with HIV in Asia, nearly half (49%) are in India. Antiretroviral treatment coverage is increasing with 39% of adults and children in need of HIV treatment having access. Coverage of PMTCT services is relatively low- (16%).

Eastern Europe and Central Asia presents a dramatic growth in HIV, with new infections increasing by 250% in the past decade. Over 90% of these infections occur in just two countries: Russia and Ukraine. The region demonstrates high coverage rates for PMTCT and paediatric HIV treatment (with 78% and 65% coverage rates respectively). However, ART coverage is very low at 23%, particularly among the most affected people- the ones who inject drugs.

Middle East and North Africa records the highest number of HIV infections ever in the region (59 000) in 2010, which represents a 36% increase over the past year. Coverage of HIV services are very low in the region: 10% for ART, 5% for paediatric treatment and 4% for PMTCT.

Latin America and the Caribbean have a stabilizing epidemic with 1.5 million living with HIV in Latin America and 200 000 in the Caribbean. HIV is predominantly among networks of men who have sex with men in Latin America. In the Caribbean though, women are the more affected group accounting for 53% of people living with HIV. The region has ART coverage of 63% for adults and 39% for children.  Coverage for effective PMTCT regimen is relatively high at 74%.

Sustaining the HIV response through the next 10 years

• Countries are already showing marked efficiency gains in HIV programmes: South Africa reduced HIV drug costs by more than 50% over a two-year period by implementing a new tendering strategy for procurement. Uganda saved US$2 million by shifting to simpler paediatric regimens. Such efficiencies are promoted through Treatment 2.0 - an initiative launched by WHO and UNAIDS in 2010 to promote simpler, cheaper and easier-to-deliver HIV treatment and diagnostic tools, combined with decentralized services that are supported by communities.
• WHO is developing new guidance on the strategic use of antiretroviral drugs for both prevention and treatment.
• WHO's "Global Health Sector Strategy on HIV/AIDS, 2011-2015", endorsed by the World Health Assembly in May 2011 highlights the importance of continuing efforts to optimize HIV treatment and "combination" prevention - the use of a range of different approaches to reduce people's risk of infection.

The 2011 "Report on the Global HIV/AIDS Response" is the comprehensive report on both the epidemiology and progress rates in access to HIV services globally and in regions and countries. It has been jointly developed by WHO, UNICEF, UNAIDS, in collaboration with national and international partners.

The full report is available from: http://www.who.int/hiv/pub/progress_report2011/.