Strong aggregate gains against HIV have been achieved in Eastern and Southern Africa, a region that is home to more than half (53%) of the world’s 36.9 million [31.1–43.9 million] people living with HIV.
UNAIDS, GLOBAL AIDS UPDATE 2018
According to the UNAIDS, GLOBAL AIDS UPDATE 2018 an estimated 21.7 million [19.1–22.6 million] people were accessing treatment at the end of 2017, five and a half times more than just a decade ago.
The report also states that expanding treatment coverage drove a 34% reduction in deaths from AIDS-related illness between 2010 and 2017. In addition, the number of AIDS-related deaths is the lowest this century – fewer than 1 million people died of AIDS-related illnesses in 2017.
It adds:
Antiretroviral therapy for the prevention of mother-to-child transmission has also greatly reduced new HIV infections among children. Globally, 1.4 million [880 000–2 100 000] new child infections have been averted since 2010.
A decade ago HIV/AIDS was overlooked by many people and as a result, the death rate was far beyond what we have today.
The use of HIV/AIDS awarenesses to educate the society about the importance of safe sex and how to live with the virus has had significant impact on people’s thoughts.
