World AIDS Day 2024: Collective Action to Sustain and Accelerate HIV Progress

Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is a virus that attacks the body’s immune system. Acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) occurs at the most advanced stage of infection.

HIV remains a major global public health issue, having claimed an estimated 42.3 million lives to date. Transmission is ongoing in all countries globally.

This annual event serves as an important reminder that we must remain steadfast in our commitment to prevent new HIV infections and provide essential services to all people living with HIV worldwide.

This year's focus is on sustaining and accelerating progress in the fight against HIV. Despite significant progress, the need for prevention, testing and treatment remains critical to ending the HIV epidemic.

HIV prevention

HIV prevention starts with protection and education. The systematic use of condoms and disposable injection equipment is essential to stop the spread of HIV. By practicing safe behaviour, we not only protect ourselves, but also contribute to the collective effort to reduce HIV transmission worldwide.

If there is a risk of contamination (condom breakage or contaminated syringe), post-operative prophylactic treatment (PEP) is used to reduce transmission of the virus.

PEP means taking HIV medicines within 72 hours (3 days) after a possible exposure to HIV to prevent HIV. The sooner PEP is started after a possible HIV exposure, the better

There is currently no effective vaccine against HIV.

HIV testing

Early and regular HIV testing is essential for people to know their HIV status. The sooner HIV is detected, the sooner people can start treatment to improve their health and prevent further transmission.

Quick self-tests are available from pharmacies. If positive, the result should be confirmed with a laboratory test.

Treatment: Saving Lives and Preventing Transmission

There are treatments for HIV.

However, no treatment can completely eliminate HIV from the body. The best treatments allow HIV-positive people to block HIV replication and maintain a functioning immune system.

These treatments are called triple therapies because they combine the effects of three viral replication inhibitors in a single dose.

Taking antiretroviral treatment during pregnancy reduces the risk of transmission to less than 1%, compared with 15-30% without treatment.

For all patients, it is advisable to start treatment as soon as possible after infection. This keeps the immune system as intact as possible and limits the risk of HIV transmission. As a result, the life expectancy of an HIV-positive person on treatment can approach that of the general population. Unfortunately, most HIV infections are not detected for several years, and only 60% of infected people worldwide have access to treatment

In the Future: New Hope with Injectable PrEP

The future holds promising innovations in HIV prevention. A new long-acting injectable drug used as pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) is proving to be highly effective in preventing HIV.

And unlike the oral version of PrEP, this new option offers the benefit of not having to take medicine every day.

This World SAIDS Day is an opportunity to remember that the epidemic is not over. Despite advances in new medicines, there is no cure for the disease. For now, prevention and early testing remain the most important tools in the fight against AIDS.

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