HIV infects a new woman every two minutes, read World AIDS Day report

Every year on World AIDS Day, December 1st, experts, advocates, survivors and loved ones remember the often-forgotten pandemic that has killed tens of millions of people over four decades.

Since 1996, one of the leading organizations in fighting the pandemic is UNAIDS.

Over the course of the pandemic, more than 75 million people were diagnosed with HIV and 35 million (45%) died of AIDS-related illnesses, according to UNAIDS.

The organization, which is developing a global strategic plan for 2021-2026 to combat the HIV/AIDS crisis, says 650,000 people continue to die from the disease each year. In 2021, more than 38 million people will be living with her HIV, including 1.5 million of her newly infected with the virus.

On Tuesday, UNAIDS published an 80-page report for World AIDS Day 2022, explaining why global efforts to end the crisis are failing. it is unequal.

“The world is not on track to end the AIDS pandemic,” UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said in a report. ”

“Frankly, this report draws the world’s attention to the painful reality that dangerous inequalities are undermining the AIDS response and endangering the health security of all. added Byanyima.

The report highlights three specific areas of inequality that require immediate and concrete action. They include the gender inequalities and toxic masculinity that drive HIV, the marginalization and criminalization of key populations, and the inequality of children where “lives must matter more than market share”. increase.

“The world will not be able to defeat AIDS while strengthening patriarchy,” Byanyima said, adding that the only effective path to eradicating AIDS is a “feminist route map.”

HIV infection rises in Atlantic Canada

While HIV/AIDS deaths continue to decline in North America, new cases are recorded each year in Canada.

In October, public health officials in Nova Scotia warned of a rise in new HIV diagnoses in the state.

According to the Nova Scotia Department of Public Health, experts expect 15 to 20 new cases of HIV in Nova Scotia each year. But by the end of August, officials had reported 20 to 25 cases. The state plans to diagnose 30 to 38 new cases by the end of the year.

Although the proportion of newly diagnosed patients has tended to double, Public Health said data may be subject to change “due to changes in case status, reporting delays, and/or data validation.” We warn you and encourage the reader to interpret the data. Note. “

“Those who are newly diagnosed with HIV are largely traced to socialites based in Halifax Municipality, [patients] We live statewide,” the press release read, adding that the study found that the most prominent risk factors identified were men who have sex with men and people who use drugs.

In Nova Scotia, individuals seeking access to HIV testing can do so through primary care providers such as family physicians, nurse practitioners, walk-in clinics, and through virtual care.

How visa restrictions perpetuated harm in AIDS 2022

While the COVID-19 pandemic and monkeypox epidemic remain on the back of our minds, experts say ignoring the ongoing HIV/AIDS crisis could lead to an uptick in new cases.

Back in July, at the International AIDS Conference in Montreal, several prominent public health experts and advocates were denied visas to Canada, had their application processes stalled, and lost their lives due to the annual event. After being unable to go to Quebec, it was full of controversy.

Terri Ford, Chief of Global Advocacy for the AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), said her refusal to include delegates to AIDS 2022 was a reflection of “how people in the Global North are treated compared to those in the Global South.” It is a stark contrast between dolphins,” and called the move “unacceptable and a serious problem.” It will damage the world’s ability to end “her one more pandemic” of HIV/AIDS. ”

“… [T]His conference, which was supposed to bring together the most experienced and passionate HIV/AIDS activists representing countries with the highest burden of disease, could not even attend. [Canada]’” Ford said in July.

Visa restrictions that have prevented public health professionals from discussing global health equity are a pattern in which wealthy countries are reluctant to share critical health knowledge with countries developing health care systems. It happened because I kept stocking up on vaccines.

Young women at increased risk of contracting HIV

In 2021, 1 in 2 young women aged 15 to 24 years will be infected with HIV worldwide.

According to a UNAIDS report, gender-based violence puts women at increased risk of HIV infection, which in turn prevents them from accessing life-saving services. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa, girls and young women between the ages of 15 and 24 are three times more likely to be infected with HIV than boys and young men of the same age group. .

The report points to research showing that keeping girls in school until they complete secondary school reduces their vulnerability to HIV infection by up to 50%. It’s all part of disrupting power dynamics and tackling inequalities.

More than 75% of HIV-positive adults are on antiretroviral therapy, while just over half of HIV-positive children are on the same life-saving drugs.

Children continue to be disproportionately affected by HIV. In 2021, children will make up just 4% of her total HIV-positive population, but account for 15% of all AIDS-related deaths.

That same year, UNAIDS reported an $8 million shortfall in funding HIV programs in low- and middle-income countries.

With another World AIDS Day coming and going, it remains to be seen whether 2022 will be the year governments choose to be world leaders in ending this crisis.

Related