Human Immune Deficiency Virus/Acquired Immune-Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) is the term given to a combination of symptoms which results from a breakdown of the immune system. It is the final stage of HIV infection, which causes severe damage to the immune system and causes fatal infections. AIDS is the second widely spread communicable disease worldwide and the sixth common cause of death globally (WHO, 2004). HIV continues to be a major global public health issue, having claimed more than 39 million lives so far, with 29 million new infections estimated by the near 2020. The number of new HIV infections in people aged ≥15 years worldwide was 2.3 million in 2000. After a two decades-long fight, the number of new infections was still 1.6 million in 2019. These data indicate that HIV prevention has failed to a significant degree, and there are potential significant problems with our understanding of HIV transmission, and, therefore, our strategies for HIV prevention.The latest Global HIV & AIDS Statistics shows that 38.4 million (33.9 million–43.8 million) people globally were living with HIV in 2021, 1.5 million (1.1 million–2.0 million) people became newly infected with HIV in 2021, 650 000 (510 000–860 000) people died from AIDS-related illnesses in 2021, 28.7 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy in 2021, 84.2 million (64.0 million–113.0 million) people have become infected with HIV since the start of the epidemic and 40.1 million (33.6 million–48.6million) people have died from AIDS-related illnesses since the start of the epidemic. Further, In 2021, there were 38.4 million (33.9 million–43.8 million) people living with HIV, 36.7 million (32.3 million–41.9 million) adults (15 years or older), 1.7 million (1.3 million–2.1 million) children (0–14 years), 54% of all people living with HIV were women and girls, 85% (75– 97%) of all people living with HIV knew their HIV status in 2021 and about 5.9 million people did not know that they were living with HIV in 2021. It was reported that people living with HIV were accessing antiretroviral therapy.At the end of December 2021, 28.7 million people were accessing antiretroviral therapy, up from 7.8 million in 2010.In 2021, 75% (66–85%) of all people living with HIV were accessing treatment, 76% (67–87%) of adults aged 15 years and older living with HIV had access to treatment, as did 52% (42–65%) of children aged 0–14 years.80% (72–91%) of female adults aged 15 years and older had access to treatment; however, just 70% (61–82%) of male adults aged 15 years and older had access.81% (63–97%) of pregnant women living with HIV had access to antiretroviral medicines to prevent transmission of HIV to their child in 2021. It was found that New HIV infections have been reduced by 54% since the peak in 1996.In 2021, around 1.5 million (1.1 million–2.0 million) people were newly infected with HIV, compared to 3.2 million (2.4 million–4.3 million) people in 1996.Women and girls accounted for 49% of all new infections in 2021.Since 2010, new HIV infections have declined by 32%, from 2.2 million (1.7 million–2.9 million) to 1.5 million (1.1 million–2.0 million) in 2021.Since 2010, new HIV infections among children have declined by 52%, from 320 000 (220 000–480 000) in 2010 to 160 000 (110 000–230 000) in 2021. It was reported that AIDS-related deaths have been reduced by 68% since the peak in 2004 and by 52% since 2010.In 2021, around 650 000 (510 000–860 000) people died from AIDS-related illnesses worldwide, compared to 2.0 million (1.6 million–2.7 million) people in 2004 and 1.4 million (1.1 million–1.8 million) people in 2010.AIDS-related mortality has declined by 57% among women and girls and by 47% among men and boys since 2010.In 2021, key populations (sex workers and their clients, gay men and other men who have sex with men, people who inject drugs, transgender people) and their sexual partners accounted for 70% of HIV infections globally: It was found that 94% of new HIV infections outside of sub-Saharan Africa.The risk of acquiring HIV is35 times higher among people who inject drugs than adults who do not inject drugs, 30 times higher for female sex workers than adult women, 28 times higher among gay men and other men who have sex with men than adult men and 14 times higher for transgender women than adult women. It is further reported that every week, around 4900 young women aged 15–24 years become infected with HIV. In sub-Saharan Africa, six in seven new HIV infections among adolescents aged 15–19 years are among girls. Girls and young women aged 15–24 years are twice as likely to be living with HIV than young men.In sub-Saharan Africa, women and girls accounted for 63% of all new HIV infections in 2021. In 2021, 85% (75–97%) of people living with HIV knew their HIV status, among people who knew their status, 88% (78–>98%) were accessing treatment and among people accessing treatment, 92% (81– >98%) were virally suppressed.
Of all people living with HIV, 85% (75–97%) knew their status, 75% (66–85%) were accessing treatment and 68% (60–78%) were virally suppressed in 2021.AIDS is caused by a virus called as Human Immune Deficiency Virus (HIV) that attacks the immune system and leaves the body vulnerable to a variety of life-threatening infections and cancers. HIV is transmitted through illegal male female relationships, transfusion of infected blood, use of no sterile, HIV infected or contaminated syringes and needles and from an infected mother to her unborn child. HIV/AIDS is a life-threatening disease, and therefore people react to it in strong ways. HIV infection is associated with behaviors (such as homosexuality, drug addiction, prostitution or promiscuity) that are already stigmatized in many societies. Most people become infected with HIV through sex, which often carries moral baggage. There is a lot of inaccurate information about how HIV is transmitted, creating irrational behaviour and misperceptions of personal risk. Religious or moral beliefs lead some people to believe that being infected with HIV is the result of moral fault (such as promiscuity or ‘deviant sex’) that deserves to be punished. There are certain chances of getting ostracized at different places and settings like marriage, place of worship, train, bus, workplace, hostel, hospital and others. HIV/AIDS is one of the biggest challenges faced by India and there are about three million people suffering from HIV/AIDS. It is reported that more than 5000 people were living with HIV virus in the Jammu and Kashmir. HIV remains a major public health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. World AIDS Day was first conceived in August 1987 by James W. Bunn and Thomas Netter, two public information officers for the Global Programme on AIDS at the World Health Organization in Geneva, Switzerland. It was first observed on December 1, 1988 to bring greater awareness to HIV, as well as to commemorate those affected by the disease. Today, it is regarded as the longest-running disease awareness initiative of its kind in the history of public health. Since those early years, the epidemic has changed enormously and so, too, has the global agenda. Worldwide about 38 million people with HIV, universal testing is the main key to halting the number of new infections. Testing will identify all those who need access to treatment, which will help those with HIV live longer and healthier lives. The first World AIDS Day focused on the theme of children and youth in order to bring greater awareness of the impact of AIDS on families, not just the groups commonly stigmatized by the media (including gay and bisexual men and injecting drug users). From 1996, World AIDS Day operations were taken over by the Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS), which expanded the scope of the project to a year-round prevention and education campaign. The global HIV response is in danger, even as HIV remains a major public health issue that affects millions of people worldwide. Over the last few years progress towards HIV goals has stalled, resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result. Division, disparity and disregard for human rights are among the failures that allowed HIV to become and remain a global health crisis.
WHO recommends a renewed focus on populations that have been left behind in the global response to HIV and AIDS. The best way to stay healthy is by taking antiretroviral treatment, as well as any medication prescribed for other health conditions.In conflict zones, all peacekeeping and peace enforcement soldiers should be trained in international human rights laws, gender consciousness and preventing gender hostility, and HIV/AIDS safeguards. The best way to reduce your risk of HIV is to be aware of how it spreads and protect yourself during certain activities.
Each World AIDS Day focuses on a specific theme, which this year will be “Equalize”, which emphasises eliminating the inequalities that have slowed the fight against the disease. On 1 December WHO joins partners to commemorate World AIDS Day 2022, under the theme “Equalize”. WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to boldly recognize and address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS; and equalize access to essential HIV services particularly for children and key populations and their partners – men who have sex with men, transgender people, people who use drugs, sex workers, and people in prisons. On 1 December 2022, WHO is calling on global leaders and citizens to rally to confront the inequalities that drive AIDS and to reach people who are currently not receiving essential HIV services.Every year, on 1 December, People around the world unite to show support for people living with and affected by HIV and to remember those who lost their lives to AIDS. The inequalities which perpetuate the AIDS pandemic are not inevitable; we can tackle them. This World AIDS Day, UNAIDS is urging each of us to address the inequalities which are holding back progress in ending AIDS. The “Equalize” slogan is a call to action. It is a prompt for all of us to work for the proven practical actions needed to address inequalities and help end AIDS. Data from UNAIDS on the global HIV response reveals that during the last two years of COVID-19 and other global crises, progress against the HIV pandemic has faltered, resources have shrunk, and millions of lives are at risk as a result. We have only eight years left before the 2030 goal of ending AIDS as a global health threat. Economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities must be addressed as a matter of urgency. In a pandemic, inequalities exacerbate the dangers for everyone. Indeed, the end of AIDS can only be achieved if we tackle the inequalities which drive it. World leaders need to act with bold and accountable leadership. And all of us, everywhere, must do all we can to help tackle inequalities too. The current evidence suggest that people living with HIV have a higher risk of becoming seriously ill from COVID-19. People living with HIV infection who have a compromised immune system should be extra cautious to prevent coronavirus infection, as they may be at an even higher risk of getting seriously ill. COVID-19 vaccines are considered safe for people living with HIV.However, HIV appears to be less of a risk factor than other health conditions, such as obesity, diabetes, severe asthma, respiratory disease, heart disease, liver disease, stroke, dementia, or older age.Antiretroviral therapy is claimed to be the main reason for the decrease in new HIV infections among children since 2000. Persistent economic, social, cultural and legal inequalities and challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic and other global crisis requires renewed efforts to maintain visibility for HIV and to end AIDS as a public health threat. WHO recommends a renewed focus on populations that have been left behind in the global response to HIV and AIDS. The best way to stay healthy is by taking antiretroviral treatment, as well as any medication prescribed for other health conditions.In conflict zones, all peacekeeping and peace enforcement soldiers should be trained in international human rights laws, gender consciousness and preventing gender hostility, and HIV/AIDS safeguards. The best way to reduce your risk of HIV is to be aware of how it spreads and protect yourself during certain activities.
( While Dr Bilal A Bhat is Professor Statistics at S K University of Agricultural Sciences & Technology-SKUAST Srinagar Kashmir, Dr Bilkees Nazir is a Research Scholar at Department of Zoology Kashmir University Srinagar. The views, opinions, facts, assumptions, presumptions and conclusions expressed in this article are those of the author but aren’t necessarily in accord with the views of “Kashmir Horizon”.)
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