More than two million AIDS related deaths reported globally in 2008 – two million children under the age of 15 now live with HIV.
New figures released by the World Health Organization and UNAIDS estimate the number of new HIV infections have declined each year by about 17% from 2001 to 2008, but for every five people infected, only two start treatment.
According to the 2009 AIDS epidemic update released in Shanghai, China on 24th November, about 2.7 million people were newly infected with HIV last year, compared with about 3.3 million in 2001.
The massive human suffering caused by the HIV and AIDS epidemic has not gone away.
“Those hit the hardest by the epidemic, including the poor and
marginalised, must have their fundamental right to essential health care and life, free from fear of stigma and discrimination, respected,” World AIDS Campaign Executive Director Marcel van Soest said.
The UN report noted about 4 million people were receiving AIDS drugs at the end of 2008, compared with 3 million the previous year. Nonetheless, an additional 5 million people need treatment and are not receiving it.
The International Trade Union Confederation (ITUC) said the global economic crisis has already put HIV prevention and treatment programmes in jeopardy.
According to the most recent World Bank report, the negative impacts of this crisis on HIV programmes will affect 70% of people receiving antiretrovirals in Africa within the next 12 months.
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