GLOBAL AIDS EPIDEMIC CONTINUES TO GROW

[057...@fudan.edu.cn]

GLOBAL AIDS EPIDEMIC CONTINUES TO GROW
New data also show HIV prevention programmes getting better results if
focused onreaching people most at risk and adapted to changing national
epidemics
Geneva, 21 November 2006 - The global AIDS epidemic continues to grow
and
there is concerning evidence that some countries are seeing a
resurgence in
new HIV infection rates which were previously stable or declining.
However,
declines in infection rates are also being observed in some countries,
as
well as positive trends in young people's sexual behaviours.
According to the latest figures published today in the UNAIDS WHO 2006
AIDS
Epidemic Update, an estimated 39.5 million people are living with HIV.
There were 4.3 million new infections in 2006 with 2.8 million (65%) of
these occurring in sub-Saharan Africa and important increases in
Eastern
Europe and Central Asia, where there are some indications that
infection
rates have risen by more than 50% since 2004. In 2006, 2.9 million
people
died of AIDS-related illnesses.
New data suggest that where HIV prevention programmes have not been
sustained and
or adapted as epidemics have changed-infection rates in some countries
are
staying the same or going back up.
In North America and Western Europe, HIV prevention programmes have
often
not been sustained and the number of new infections has remained the
same.
Similarly in low- and middle-income countries, there are only a few
examples of countries that have actually reduced new infections. And
some
countries that had showed earlier successes in reducing new infections,
such as Uganda, have either slowed or are now experiencing increasing
infection rates.
"This is worrying-as we know increased HIV prevention programmes in
these
countries have shown progress in the past-Uganda being a prime example.
This means that countries are not moving at the same speed as their
epidemics," said UNAIDS Executive Director Dr Peter Piot. "We need to
greatly intensify life-saving prevention efforts while we expand HIV
treatment programmes." HIV prevention works but needs to be focused and
sustained New data from the report show that increased HIV prevention
programmes that are focused and adapted to reach those most at risk of
HIV
infection are making inroads.
Positive trends in young people's sexual behaviours-increased use of
condoms, delay of sexual debut, and fewer sexual partners-have taken
place
over the past decade in many countries with generalized epidemics.
Declines
in HIV prevalence among young people between 2000 and 2005 are evident
in
Botswana, Burundi, C?te d'Ivoire, Kenya, Malawi, Rwanda, Tanzania and
Zimbabwe.
In other countries, even limited resources are showing high returns
when
investments are focused on the needs of people most likely to be
exposed to
HIV. In China, there are some examples of focused programmes for sex
workers that have seen marked increases in Page 2 of 3 condom use and
decreases in rates of sexually transmitted infections, and programmes
with
injecting drug users are also showing progress in some regions. And in
Portugal, HIV diagnoses among drug injectors were almost one third
(31%)
lower in 2005, compared with 2001, following the implementation of
special
prevention programmes focused on HIV and drug use.
Addressing the challenges: Know your epidemic In many countries, HIV
prevention programmes are not reaching the people most at risk of
infection, such as young people, women and girls, men who have sex with
men, sex workers and their clients, injecting drug users, and ethnic
and
cultural minorities. The report outlines how the issue of women and
girls
within the AIDS epidemic needs continued and increased attention. In
sub-Saharan Africa for example, women continue to be more likely than
men
to be infected with HIV and in most countries in the region they are
also
more likely to be the ones caring for people infected with HIV.
According to the report, there is increasing evidence of HIV outbreaks
among men who have sex with men in Cambodia, China, India, Nepal,
Pakistan,
Thailand and Viet Nam as well as across Latin America but most national
AIDS programmes fail to address the specific needs of these people. New
data also show that HIV prevention programmes are failing to address
the
overlap between injecting drug use and sex work within the epidemics of
Latin America, Eastern Europe and particularly Asia.
"It is imperative that we continue to increase investment in both HIV
prevention and treatment services to reduce unnecessary deaths and
illness
from this disease," said WHO Acting Director-General, Dr Anders
Nordstr?m.
"In sub-Saharan Africa, the worst affected region, life expectancy at
birth
is now just 47 years, which is 30 years less than most highincome
countries." The AIDS Epidemic Update underlines how weak HIV
surveillance
in several regions including Latin America, the Caribbean, the Middle
East,
and North Africa often means that people at highest risk-men who have
sex
with men, sex workers, and injecting drug users-are not adequately
reached
through HIV prevention and treatment strategies because not enough is
known
about their particular situations and realities.
The report also highlights that levels of knowledge of safe sex and HIV
remain low in many countries, as well as perception of personal risk.
Even
in countries where the epidemic has a very high impact, such as
Swaziland
and South Africa, a large proportion of the population do not believe
they
are at risk of becoming infected.
"Knowing your epidemic and understanding the drivers of the epidemic
such
as inequality between men and women and homophobia is absolutely
fundamental to the long-term response to AIDS. Action must not only be
increased dramatically, but must also be strategic, focused and
sustainable
to ensure that the money reaches those who need it most," said Dr Piot.
The annual AIDS Epidemic Update reports on the latest developments in
the
global AIDS epidemic. With maps and regional estimates, the 2006
edition
provides the most recent estimates on the epidemic's scope and human
toll
and explores new trends in the epidemic's evolution. The report is
available at www.unaids.org UNAIDS, the Joint United Nations Programme
on
HIV/AIDS, brings together the efforts and resources of ten UN system
organizations to the global AIDS response. Cosponsors include UNHCR,
UNICEF, WFP, UNDP, UNFPA, UNODC, ILO, UNESCO, WHO and the World Bank.
Based
in Geneva, the UNAIDS Secretariat works on the ground in more than 75
countries worldwide.
As the directing and coordinating authority on international health
work,
the World Health Organization (WHO) takes the lead within the UN
system in
the global health sector response to HIV/AIDS. WHO provides technical,
evidence-based support to Member States to help strengthen health
systems
to provide a comprehensive and sustainable response to HIV/AIDS
including
treatment, care, support and prevention services through the health
sector.
Contact
Yasmine Topor | UNAIDS Geneva | +41 22 791 3501 | top...@unaids.org
Beth Magne-Watts | UNAIDS Geneva | +41 22 791 5074 |
magne...@unaids.org
barton...@unaids.org
Iqbal Nandra | WHO Geneva | + 41 22 791 5589 | nan...@who.int