The 18th International AIDS Conference is taking place in Vienna, Austria from July 18-23 based on the theme ''Rights Here, Right Now.'' Trócaire, the Irish Church's overseas development agency, is among many groups pushing for expanded access to HIV prevention, treatment, care and support - known as universal access.
World governments promised a decade ago to deliver on this by the end of this year. Many are now reneging on their commitments undoubtedly blaming the global financial crisis. This is simply not good enough.
The 33.4 million people currently living with HIV, many millions of whom are also affected by parallel epidemics of poverty, stigma and discrimination. But while progress has been made in some areas, most countries are still not on track.
According to the United Nations, AIDS is now at a tipping point. The agency said that almost 30 years after the start of the epidemic, more than 7,400 people are newly infected with HIV every day and almost 5,000 people die of AIDS daily. With five newly infected people for every two starting treatment, the trajectory of the epidemic has to be broken.
On the positive side, more than four million people are now receiving treatment. From 2007 to 2008, coverage of those in need of treatment went from 33 per cent to 42 per cent. The global rate of HIV infection has dropped 17 per cent since 2001. For pregnant mothers living with HIV, the percentage of those receiving treatment to prevent transmission of the virus to their child increased to 45 per cent.
However, this is far from adequate. In 2008 alone, 430,000 children became infected, predominantly during pregnancy and through breastfeeding. Young people between 15- 24 also account for 45 per cent of all new infections in adults and yet less than 40 per cent of them have basic information about HIV. Overall, less than half of people living with HIV know their status.
Sub-Saharan Africa is the region most heavily affected by HIV, where women account for more than 60 per cent of people living with the virus. This is primarily caused by the severe social, legal and economic disadvantages they often face.
The current global financial crisis, coupled with creeping 'AIDS fatigue', jeopardises funding. It is estimated that US$25 billion will be required each year to secure universal access as promised - 40 per cent more than the total investments made in 2008. This requires a concerted push by all of those involved in the HIV response, including faith based organisations, which have been recognised by UNAIDS as key players in the response over the coming decade.
