Saima Wazed, WHO Regional Director for Southeast Asia
Today, December 1st, we come together with purpose and passion to celebrate World AIDS Day 2024. The World Health Organization (WHO) stands shoulder to shoulder with partners and communities around the world, calling on leaders and peoples to uphold the fundamental right to health. .
We must confront the inequalities that stand in the way of achieving the Sustainable Development Goal goal of ending AIDS by 2030. This year’s theme is “Walking the path of rights: My health, my rights!” This has fueled calls for rights-based and accessible healthcare to enable people affected by HIV/AIDS to live vibrant and fulfilling lives.
A rights-based approach is more than just a strategy. It is a commitment to protect the dignity, health and autonomy of all individuals, especially those who are vulnerable and most at risk. We must boldly tackle the stigma and discrimination that pose major barriers to access to prevention, treatment and care.
WHO is committed to creating an environment where everyone, regardless of their HIV status or social identity, can access the services they need without fear or exclusion. Empowering communities and civil society is essential to amplifying the voices of at-risk populations and promoting supportive frameworks that link human rights and health outcomes.
Marginalized people continue to bear the brunt of this epidemic, facing disproportionate impacts from stigma, discrimination and, in some cases, criminalization. HIV infection rates are particularly high among key populations such as men who have sex with men (MSM), sex workers, people who inject drugs, transgender and gender diverse individuals, and prisoners. It is important to address the social, economic, legal and cultural inequalities that prevent access to HIV services for all. Prioritizing marginalized populations and abolishing discriminatory laws are essential steps to achieving global HIV goals and realizing the universal right to health.
Looking back at the current situation, 39.9 million people worldwide are living with HIV, and 1.3 million new infections will be reported in 2023, which is far short of the 2025 target of less than 370,000. I am aware that I am far superior. In the WHO Southeast Asia Region alone, approximately 3.9 million people are living with HIV (PLHIV), representing 10% of the global burden. By 2023, 78% of PLHIV-infected people in the region will be aware of their status, 66% will be on life-saving antiretroviral treatment, and 64% of people with HIV will have their viral load suppressed. I was doing it. Although we have made significant progress in reducing HIV/AIDS rates through strong national efforts, we must recognize that there are continuing challenges.
An estimated 80,000 children and adolescents aged 0-14 years are infected with HIV, accounting for 2% of all HIV infections in the region, primarily due to vertical transmission (mother-to-child transmission). Approximately 53,000 infants are born with congenital syphilis. Despite effective interventions to eliminate mother-to-child transmission during pregnancy, labor, and birth, the number of these children remains too high. They face many complex challenges while growing up with the HIV virus. The WHO’s ‘triple elimination’ initiative for vertical transmission of HIV, syphilis and hepatitis B viruses is a key public health priority to protect the next generation of young people from these infections. Three champion countries, Maldives, Sri Lanka and Thailand, have already achieved the elimination of vertical transmission of HIV and syphilis.
Furthermore, although new infections among young people are decreasing overall, there is an alarming increase in some countries where almost half of new infections are occurring among young people, especially those aged 15 to 24. I am witnessing this.
For many young people infected with and living with HIV, the journey is filled with challenges that go beyond the medical aspects of the virus. The emotional impact of being diagnosed with HIV can be severe for the person and their family. Young people often suffer from feelings of isolation, fear, and prejudice. Many people report feeling psychologically traumatized, which can lead to social withdrawal and reluctance to seek necessary medical care. Most people face prejudice and discrimination, which makes it difficult to stay safe and healthy.
Additionally, key youth face unique hurdles in accessing health care. Many people lack comprehensive sex education, which is important to understand their health needs and prevent further infection. Less than a quarter of young people in the region know how and where HIV is transmitted, and even fewer know about sexually transmitted infections (STIs). This knowledge gap can lead to increased vulnerability as young people may not seek testing or treatment due to misinformation or fear of stigma.
The recent adoption of the Ministerial Declaration on Adolescent-Responsive Health Systems by countries in the WHO South-East Asia Region on 8 October 2024 marks a significant commitment to building inclusive health systems that respond to the needs of young people. It is something. This is in line with the theme of World AIDS Day and strengthens the rights of all young people affected by HIV. Empowering young people through a rights-based approach includes ensuring access to youth-friendly services, comprehensive sexuality education, social and legal protection, and meaningful involvement in decision-making processes. In line with this, we need to ensure that young people, especially those most at risk, are included in the setting of policies and services so that services and interventions tailored to their needs can be provided.
In this era of technological advancement, innovative solutions such as mobile health apps, online counseling, telemedicine, and virtual support groups offer promising avenues for delivering needed HIV and other services to young people and key populations. Provide. Scaling up these innovations can help fill gaps for people who are difficult to access through traditional healthcare systems.
Additionally, new biomedical tools such as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and long-acting antiretroviral drugs offer promise in reducing HIV infections. It is essential that governments, donors and partners work together to ensure these tools are available, accessible and affordable across the region.
We also need to step up efforts to combat HIV-related stigma, which continues to impede access to critical services. This includes training health care providers to provide compassionate, non-judgmental care and launching a public awareness campaign celebrating the rights and resilience of people living with HIV. Sharing accurate information and positive stories is critical to fostering an enabling environment.
The WHO Southeast Asia Region is committed to achieving the 2030 goal of eliminating AIDS and ensuring that 95% of people infected with HIV are diagnosed and 95% of those diagnosed receive sustained treatment. ” We are working resolutely to achieve our goals. 95% of people receiving treatment achieve viral suppression. Achieving this will require collaboration between governments, international organizations, donors and partners, health care providers, civil society and, most importantly, those most affected.
On this World AIDS Day, let us reaffirm our commitment to the health and rights of all individuals affected by HIV/AIDS. By Walking the Path of Rights, we not only advocate for health equity, but also empower communities to stand up for their rights. Let’s work together to ensure that all young people and all people living with HIV/AIDS can proudly say, “My health, my right!”
