New AIDS figures call for strengthened efforts towards universal access

none 20 nov 2007 – 20:23

by mlepeska

The Global Steering Committee (GSC) of the World AIDS Campaign issues the following statement in response to the release of the AIDS Epidemic Update 2007 by UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation today. In welcoming more accurate figures, the GSC indicates that the response to AIDS pandemic can in no way be relaxed and urges strengthened efforts towards universal access and a focus on the effects of HIV and AIDS that are felt far beyond statistics of those most directly affected.

As representatives of people, networks, and alliances directly affected and active in the response to HIV and AIDS, we welcome the latest figures from UNAIDS and the World Health Organisation that reduce the estimated number of new HIV infections and the overall figures of people living with HIV. Any improvements in data gathering techniques that allow us to get a more accurate picture of the AIDS epidemic, as well as indications that intensive efforts to address all aspects of the disease are having an effect, are signs of hope that we can definitively stop the spread of HIV and look towards the day when AIDS will be eradicated.

But the need to act and to keep the promises we have made in responding to HIV and AIDS remains as urgent as ever. As the latest report indicates, over 5700 people died each day from AIDS-related illnesses in 2007. Over 6800 people are still being infected with HIV daily, about 1200 of whom are children under 15 and about 2900 are women 15 years and older. The infection rates in young people ages 15-24 remain frighteningly high. We know these infections and these deaths are preventable and avoidable if promises by countries to scale up access to prevention, treatment, care and support for all are to be fulfilled by 2010. The reduced figures for the HIV epidemic and stabilization in some areas of rates of infection in fact make such universal access by 2010 more achievable.

Yet statistics go only so far in showing the extent of an epidemic, and this is particularly true with HIV. Resources for information services, health care, medicines, and support services still fall far short of need, stigma and discrimination are rampant, and gender inequality, violence, and poverty deny access for people to accurate information, prevention, testing, counselling and treatment. While these conditions still exist, HIV will continue to spread.

At its essence, the epidemic is about people, not numbers. Rates of infection and deaths – even in their millions – do not begin to reveal the true toll of AIDS on families and friends, on communities, on people already at the margins of society, on youth and women in particular.

We have seen countries and people grow complacent when statistics show rates of infection declining only to have the numbers increase. We cannot afford to pause in our response.

The improved methodology that has made these figures more reliable demonstrates what can be done when countries put resources and effort behind comprehensive health surveillance systems and prioritise their response to AIDS. We need all countries to strengthen these and all other aspects of the response. It is possible, and we will do all in our power to make it happen.

We remain committed as civil society to address all aspects that fuel the spread of HIV and prevent universal access to prevention, treatment, care and support, including holding governments accountable to the commitments they have made. We call on all governments, multilateral organisations, health care institutions and health care workers, policy makers and advocates to intensify their actions in response to this epidemic.

The theme of World AIDS Day 2007 (December 1st) is “Leadership”. There is no better time than now for all leaders at all levels to recommit themselves to Stop AIDS. Keep the Promise!

World AIDS Campaign Global Steering Committee Members

Linda Hartke, Coordinator, Ecumenical Advocacy Alliance
Prateek Suman, Youth Coalition Steering Commitee Member, Youth Coalition
Kieran Daly, Director, Policy & Communications, ICASO
Deloris Dockrey, Chair of the Board of GNP+, Global Network of People Living with HIV/AIDS
Alan Leather, Chair of the Global Unions HIV/AIDS Programme, Global Union Federatoins and ITUC (International Trade Union Conference)
Mabel Bianco, President of FEIM and Coordinator of IWAC, International Women's AIDS Caucus - IWAC/FEIM
Patricia Mugambi, Africa Director, East and Central Africa Office of the Global Business Coalition on AIDS, TB and Malaria
Allyson Leacock, Executive Director, Caribbean Broadcast Media Partnership on HIV/AIDS (CBMP)

Epidemic Update 2007 can be accessed at www.unaids.org

For more information or to arrange interviews contact the World AIDS Campaign at media@worldaidscampaign.org , +44 1524 727 651 (UK), +31 20 616 9045 (Netherlands) or +27 21 466 7827 (South Africa).

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