Today’s numer is about… HIV
According to UNAIDS’ latest report, there are still 36.7 million people in the world with HIV. Nearly 20 million of them do not have access to treatment. UNAIDS Executive Director Michel Sidibé remains optimistic, saying “We haven’t ended AIDS, but we can do it."
In June 2016, 18.2 million people had access to antiretroviral therapy, an increase of 2.4 million from June 2015 and more than twice the amount from 2010 (7.5 million).
In 2015, 2.1 million people were infected and although the new infection rate among children has decreased significantly since 2010, the number of new infections in adults remains stable. Every year since 2010 nearly 1.9 million adults are infected with HIV.
The so-called 'Fast-Track' strategy to combat the epidemic aims to ensure than 90% of those infected with HIV are aware of their status, that 90% of those infected receive treatment and that 90% of those who receive treatment have a suppressed viral load so that they are no longer infectious. This strategy “is working”, Sidibé says.
AIDS-related deaths have declined by 45% from 2005, when there was an all-time high. Nevertheless, in the last year, 1.1 million people around the world died due to AIDS-related causes.