While not observed for the full month, I have chosen to report on World AIDS Day (recognized on December 1st) because of the global magnitude of those affected.
At the end of 2010 it was estimated that 34 million individuals globally had been diagnosed with HIV; 2.7 million new cases had been reported; 1.8 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses.
In the US, approximately 1.2 million individuals are infected and of that, 20% are unaware. New infection rates are fairly stable, yet high, with around 50,000 new infections each year.
A new report submitted by the Joint United Nations Program indicates that infections and AIDS-related deaths have fallen 21% in the last 14 years. In a like manner, deaths from AIDS-related illnesses also decreased by 21% in the last six years. My guess is this dramatic decline can be attributed in large part to awareness, education and anti-retroviral therapy, despite difficult economic times.
New HIV infections have been reduced and/or stabilized in most parts of the world. South Africa, the country with the larges number of new HIV infections in the world has even reported a decline in reported cases. In Botswana, sexual behavior and preferences have remained relatively stable since 2000 where the country increased its access to treatment from less than 5% of those affected just 11 years ago to over 80% in the past two years. The country’s annual reporting of new infections has declined by over two-thirds since the late 1990s, leading researchers to surmise the number of new HIV infections is 30% – 50% lower today than it would have been without anti-retroviral therapy. With treatment comes the reduction of a person living with HIV to almost undetectable levels which dramatically reduces the risk of that individual transmitting the virus to an uninfected partner. Recent studies on the topic reveal that treatment can be up to 96% effective in preventing HIV transmission among couples.
Today the Caribbean’s reported infections have been reduced by a third from what was reported in 2001. Likewise, there has been a reduction in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic. In India, new HIV infections have fallen by more than 50%.
The decline in infection has been attributed to changes in sexual behavior, the increased use of condoms, because younger people are waiting longer to become sexually active, and people of all ages are reducing their numbers of sexual partners. Approximately 400,000 new infections in children have been averted in the last 16 years because of increased access to anti-retroviral regimens and because almost 50% of all pregnant women living with HIV in low-and middle-income countries have been able to access effective drug regimens to prevent unborn children from being infected. While we cannot begin to put a price on saving a life, it was estimated that at the end of 2010, approximately $15 billion US was available for the AIDS response. Sadly, but perhaps not unexpectedly, donor funding for global HIV/AIDS is on the decline and the effects of this funding crunch are becoming apparent in those countries hardest hit.
The International Labour Organization (ILO) builds on and reinforces the principles and guidelines of their code of practice by “Getting to Zero”. They stress there should be no discrimination or stigmatization of workers on the grounds of real or perceived status of HIV/AIDS; workplaces should facilitate access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support.; privacy and confidentiality should be ensured with regard to HIV status; there should be no mandatory HIV testing and screening for employment purposes; and the workplace response should be a part of national policies and programs, including those related to labor, education, social protection and health. Sadly, their biggest obstacle in getting their ideas into the workplace is, as we might have guessed, funding.
As we can see, the protection of human rights has been an integral component in the response to HIV. Advances in understanding are vital and a great deal remains to be done to address this pandemic. As with anything worth working and fighting for, the road is long but the results in eradicating this situation will be well worth the efforts expended.
United States Centers for Disease Control HIV/AIDS fact sheet:
http://www.cdc.gov/hiv/resources/factsheets/PDF/us.pdf
UN AIDS World AIDS Day Report 2011:
http://www.worldaidscampaign.org/2011/11/unaids-world-aids-day-report-2011/
