Ei-iE

UNAIDS and the WHO have revised downward the figure on global HIV prevalence. Partially in response to the impact of HIV programmes, but also due to the introduction of new surveillance methods, UNAIDS puts the number of people living with HIV globally at 33.2 million, down from 39.5 million in 2007. EI welcomes this news but cautions against complacency.

Each year UNAIDS produces its Epidemiology Report which features all of the latest trends, data and figures related to HIV and AIDS internationally. This year UNAIDS have announced that global HIV prevalence has fallen to 33.2m. The number of new infections had fallen to 2.5 million and the number of people dying from AIDS-related illnesses has also declined in the last two years, due in part to the life prolonging effects of antiretroviral therapy. On the surface this would seem to be a huge breakthrough. However regionally the numbers are still overwhelming. In Sub-Saharan Africa alone the number of people living with HIV is still 22.5 million, 68% of the global total. Mortality is still high in Africa due to a huge outstanding need for treatment. In Eastern Europe and Central Asia the number living with HIV has increased by 150% from 630,000 in 2001 to 1.6 million today.

UNAIDS and WHO officials emphasise the fact that the new estimates, although welcome, do not change much. There is still an urgent need for action to scale up prevention, treatment, care and support services.

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