Are we still on track? UN meeting on HIV and AIDS

UN Photo/Mark Garten

Passionist men and women have been working with and serving people living with HIV and AIDS in many countries over many years. Among the places where we stand with people infected by this pandemic are Botswana, South Africa, Australia, USA. Their practical ministry is a constant reminder that “love is ingenious”. They show us what compassion looks like and they witness to hope.

At the United Nations on June 10, 2011, the General Assembly adopted a political declaration that promises to fully eradicate the devastating remains of HIV/AIDS. The declaration was the fruit of the High Level Meeting on HIV/AIDS convened to review progress in combating the pandemic. More than 30 Heads of State and over 160 governments and organizations reported on their progress. Fortunately, many states had good news to report. Studies indicate that AIDS related deaths declined by 20% in the past five years, and infection rates also declined by 25% in more than 30 countries. Since 2001, funding for antiretroviral treatment has increased eight fold.  But these countries still have much more work to do. The Assembly was concerned that many countries are not on target to stop AIDS by 2015.

Governments renewed their commitment to fight against AIDS. Everyone must have access to HIV/AIDS care, treatment and prevention by 2015. To achieve this universal access, they agreed to focus on particular groups most affected by the epidemic. These include women, young girls, homosexuals, victims of sex trafficking, and drug users. Discrimination against these people must end if there is to be a healthy response to the crisis. They must also be guaranteed access to treatment.

Member states said they will expand education programs, extend HIV testing and counseling to all citizens without discrimination, and make condoms more accessible. They pledged to continue investing in HIV/AIDS research and development in order to create safe, affordable, and effective vaccines and cures. By 2015, member states aim to use these vaccines and cures to stop the mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS. They also aim to put 15 million infected people on antiretroviral drug therapy. Member states asked the Secretary General to review their progress every year until 2015.

While noting the progress made, states acknowledged that they must continue the fight: 33 million people currently live with the disease; more than 7000 new infections occur every day Most new infections occur in the poorest regions of the world, in particular in Sub-Saharan African countries. Poverty and HIV/AIDS share a strong correlation. Many who become infected do not have the resources to even acknowledge their own infection.

Many countries have made great strides. Last year’s funding topped $16 billion, but fear was expressed that the global financial crisis prevented even greater levels of funding. The Global Fund to fight AIDS, Tuberculosis, and Malaria failed to receive all of the $30 million in donor commitments. The General Assembly also urged the World Trade Organization to make it easier for developing countries to obtain cheaper generic versions of patented medicines. To read more, go to: http://www.un.org/News/Press/docs//2011/ga11093.doc.htm

-          Joshua Malone, Summer Intern, Passionists International

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