The world has exceeded the UN goal of reversing the spread of HIV around the world by the end of 2015, according to a new report from UNAIDS, titled: How AIDS changed everything.
The 515-page report says that since the Millennium Development Goals were set in 2000, unprecedented strides have been made to eradicate HIV and AIDS: 15 million people with HIV are now on antiretroviral treatment, up from fewer than 700,000 people in 2000, and new HIV infection rates have fallen by 35%. The number of deaths related to AIDS has fallen by 41%. Combating AIDS, malaria and other diseases was one of eight goals UN member nations and other organizations pledged to address by this year.
There's still much work left to be done in the fight against HIV/AIDS, especially in relation to LGBT people, sex workers, and intravenous drug users around the world, who are often ignored and discriminated against. And nearly half of people living with HIV do not know their status.
"HIV prevention efforts need to be adapted to respond to the new realities and needs of men who have sex with men," the report says. It adds that transgender people are typically excluded from public policy discussions as well as social services for HIV/AIDS and measures should be taken to eliminate gender-based violence and inequality. Read More
Access the report, infographics, and other tools here.