UNAIDS Report: Global HIV Treatment Doubled in 5 Years, New Infections Fell by 35% Since 2000

Strategic Insights -

In a significant milestone, 15.8 million people are now on HIV treatment, and a five-year strategy to end the threat of a never-ending AIDS pandemic is showing results, the United Nations Aids programme reported. Despite the progress, new HIV infections have fallen by only 35% since the peak of the three-decade-old pandemic in 2000, and AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 42% since their peak in 2004.

Key Takeaways:

  • The number of people on HIV treatment has doubled in the past five years, from 16 million in June 2015 to 15.8 million currently.
  • 36.9 million people were infected with HIV by the end of 2014, with over half of them lacking access to treatment.
  • Focusing on 35 countries, which account for 90% of all new HIV infections, would have the greatest impact and reap huge benefits.
  • Every five years, the number of people on life-saving treatment has more than doubled, from 7.5 million in 2010 to 15.8 million currently.
  • The World Health Organization recommends immediate access to anti-retroviral Aids drugs for all people diagnosed as HIV positive.
  • Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) policy adviser Sharonann Lynch urges all countries to "waste no time" in ensuring all HIV positive people are offered immediate treatment.

Statistics:

  • 15.8 million people are currently on HIV treatment.
  • New HIV infections have fallen by 35% since the peak of the pandemic in 2000.
  • AIDS-related deaths have dropped by 42% since their peak in 2004.
  • 36.9 million people were infected with HIV by the end of 2014.
  • 2.2 million people were on HIV treatment in 2005, and 7.5 million in 2010.
  • 35 countries account for 90% of all new HIV infections.

Sources:

  • The Ethiopian Herald/All Africa Global Media via COMTEX
  • United Nations Aids program
  • World Health Organization
  • Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF)