Science has gifted us proven tools to stop the spread of HIV infection, as well as to ensure that all people living with HIV live healthy and fulfilling lives. But we failed to save 630,000 people with HIV who died in 2022.

Science has proven that if people with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and remain virally suppressed, then there is zero risk of any further transmission of HIV from them to anyone else. According to WHO, “people living with HIV who have an undetectable viral load using any WHO-approved test and continue taking medication as prescribed have ‘zero risk’ of transmitting HIV to their sexual partner(s).” That is why undetectable equals untransmittable.

“If we are to end AIDS, we have to ensure that along with 100-100-100 (100% of people with HIV know their status, 100% of people with HIV are on lifesaving antiretroviral therapy, and 100% of them are virally suppressed), we also have to ensure that no one suffers or dies of TB,” said Dr Ishwar Gilada who is part of the upcoming world’s largest AIDS conference in Munich, Germany (25th International AIDS Conference or AIDS 2024). Dr Gilada is also on the Governing Council of International AIDS Society (IAS).

Despite knowing #UndetectableEqualsUntransmittable or #UequalsU, 1.3 million people got newly infected with HIV in 2022. If we had ensured that all people with HIV are virally suppressed and everyone has access to the full range of HIV combination prevention options, then we could have averted new infections.

AIDS 2024 is being organised by International AIDS Society (IAS) along with the government of Germany and partners. “Germany has a low rate of HIV prevalence. According to the Robert Koch Institute (RKI), as of 2022, an estimated 90,800 people in Germany are living with HIV infection. The number of new HIV infections has been declining, with an estimated 1,900 new HIV infections occurring in the year 2022- a slight increase from 1800 news cases in 2021,” said Ministry of Health Germany in an exclusive interview (over email) with CNS.........

© Eurasia Review