AIDS epidemic to be completed by 2030?

AIDS: UN wants to end Aids epidemic by 2030
Currently, nearly 37 million people worldwide are living with HIV. The United Nations has now set itself an ambitious goal. By 2030, the AIDS epidemic is to be conquered. The HIV-related discrimination is to be ended by then.

End AIDS epidemic by 2030
According to the United Nations, around 36.7 million people worldwide currently live with the AIDS virus HIV. Although 2.1 million of them were infected last year alone, the UN announced a turnaround. Among other things, there were 40 percent fewer fatalities. The United Nations Heads of State and Government have now agreed on an ambitious goal: to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. Enormous improvements should be achieved by 2020.

The United Nations has set itself an ambitious goal: to end the AIDS epidemic by 2030. The HIV-related discrimination should then come to an end. (Image: beermedia.de/fotolia.com)

Every year more than two million people become infected with HIV
For example, the number of new HIV infections is expected to fall from more than two million a year to just under 500,000 in just four years. In addition, less than half a million people a year are expected to die of AIDS or AIDS in one year. Last but not least, the HIV-related discrimination around the world should be ended. A truly ambitious plan. As the news agency dpa reports, Michel Sidibé, UNAIDS director and thus leader of the ambitious plan, was hopeful. According to him, in 2020, the global community would only need to spend 26.2 billion dollars instead of the previously estimated 30 billion dollars (about 26.3 billion euros) in order to achieve the set goals. After this peak, the required investment would steadily decline.

It is not enough with money alone
However, Doctors Without Borders fears that Central and West Africa, which is particularly hard hit, will find that funding will be insufficient. The organization demands from the UN adequate funding in the fight against HIV and AIDS. But it's about more than just money. Thus, the necessary therapies would have to be made accessible to all concerned, whether drug addicts in Russia, prostitutes in China or homosexuals in Lesotho. Treatment must be possible immediately after HIV diagnosis. Therapies have made great progress in recent years. Only recently, researchers reported their hope that a new approach could make it possible to cure AIDS.

The fight against AIDS and HIV will continue
The United Nations has also reported on initial progress. Thus, the number of new infections has fallen by more than a third since the year 2000. Also: "Today 17 million people are treated, which is a real success story," said Michel Sidibé. With regard to Africa, he speaks of a "turning point". For the first time, more people living with HIV are treated on the continent than newly infected. In the poor villages of the world, but also in big cities, the serious fight against HIV and AIDS will continue. (Ad)