UNAIDS
The virtual 47th meeting of the UNAIDS Programme Coordinating Board (PCB) has concluded with important decisions relating to the HIV response, the COVID-19 epidemic, and the ongoing transformation of UNAIDS.
In her opening remarks to the PCB, UNAIDS Executive Director, Winnie Byanyima, thanked the United States of America for chairing the meeting and for its continued leadership in the AIDS response. In her report to the PCB on the state of the HIV epidemic, Ms Byanyima described a mixed picture of progress for some and inequality, stalled or growing danger from HIV for others. With the UNAIDS 2020 targets unmet, she warned that COVID-19 threatened to blow the HIV response even further off-track and called on the world to tackle the long-term fragilities, inequalities and injustices which continue to drive the HIV epidemic.
New cases of HIV in Northern Ireland have fallen to their lowest level in a decade, the Public Health Agency (PHA) has said.
Fifty-two new cases were recorded in 2019 compared with 80 in 2018, a new report from the agency found.
The figures represent a decline of almost half (49%) following a peak of 102 new cases in 2015.
There were 27 new HIV diagnoses which occurred through heterosexual transmission, and 21 new cases among gay and bisexual men in 2019.
It s the first time in 10 years that the heterosexual transmission rate was higher than HIV transmission in gay and bisexual men, which fell by 42% last year.
The PHA said that was due to the use of pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), a medication taken daily by those at high risk of getting HIV, as well as the use of condoms, regular testing and starting antiretroviral therapy (ART) as soon as possible after an HIV diagnosis.
25/11/20 COVID-19 controls used to arrest, torture HIV sufferers
COVID-19 restrictions have been used around the world to discriminate against people living with HIV, such as Juna in Nepal. Many people have been left without access to medication or support. Copyright: Rojita Adhikari/SciDev.Net
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COVID-19 threatens progress made in global heath UN
Mr. Mogens Lykketoft, President of the seventieth session of the General Assembly.
Ms. Catherine Pollard, Under Secretary-General for General Assembly and Conference Management
Published 17 December 2020
The United Nations says the novel coronavirus pandemic is threatening the progress made in global health over the past two decades.
The Executive Director, Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS, Winnie Byanyima, stated this recently when the UN team held a half-day strategic brainstorming retreat with the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 amid indications of a second wave of the pandemic
Byanyima said, “COVID-19 is threatening the progress that the world has made in health and development over the past 20 years, including the gains we have made against HIV. Only global solidarity and shared responsibility will help us beat the coronavirus, end the AIDS epidemic and guarantee the right to health for all.”