AIDS is at a crossroads: Would governments expand the proven key population-led services?

“We are at a critical juncture in our response to end AIDS. As of now, we have 6.7 million people living with HIV in our region. Despite the progress we have made in our AIDS response, there are still 300,000 new HIV infections and 150,000 AIDS related deaths each year,” said Harry Prabowo of Asia Pacific Network of people living with HIV (APN Plus) and Seven Alliance. Even one AIDS death is a death too many because we have the science-based tools to avert it.

Youth-led initiatives spark hope for children and adolescents living with HIV

"As a young person living with HIV, I had self-stigmatised myself due to the fear of discrimination… fear of discrimination if I dare disclose my HIV positive status to others… this fear had stopped me from living life like a normal person,” said a youth living with HIV who is interning with Human Touch Foundation in Goa, India.

If some countries in Asia Pacific can be on track to end AIDS then why cannot all?

Not just richer nations like New Zealand are meeting some of the 2025 HIV-related targets but also low- and middle-income countries like Nepal, Cambodia and Thailand in Asia and the Pacific region.

Call to leave #NoOneBehind: 100-100-100 to end TB and end AIDS before 2030

 
Over 1500 people from 73 countries are unequivocally demanding that all people with HIV or TB must have access to full cascade of standard health services and social support in people-centred, rights-based and gender transformative ways. Unless best of WHO recommended prevention, diagnostics, treatment, care and support reaches everyone in need globally, we cannot end TB or AIDS.

Alarm rings in Asia Pacific for not making U-equals-U and HIV prevention accessible to all

The latest 2024 data from United Nations joint programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) show that highest number of people who got newly infected with HIV in Asia and the Pacific region in 2023, were linked to those who do not know that they were HIV positive, followed by those who were diagnosed but not able to access treatment, or not virally suppressed. Governments have failed to ensure that every person living with HIV receives lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and remains virally suppressed. If a person is virally suppressed, then there is no risk of any HIV transmission linked to this person, as per the World Health Organization (WHO).

Corporate greed continues to impede AIDS response

"We do not have an HIV vaccine or cure yet, but we have the next best thing: a prevention medication that is 100% effective!" said Winnie Byanyima, Executive Director of United Nations joint programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS). She appealed to Big Pharma to "share it with UN-backed Medicines Patent Pool and allow generic licenses in low- and middle-income countries."

A-for-Accountability is missing in responses to HIV, hepatitis, STIs and TB

We have the science-based tools to prevent, diagnose, treat and manage all four infections: HIV, hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections (STIs) and TB. Despite this, TB has been the biggest infectious disease killer in the world till COVID-19 had hit us (but more people died of TB in high-burden countries than those who died of COVID). Now, another preventable infection, hepatitis, has emerged to kill as many people as those who died from TB in 2022 (around 1.3 million). 630,000 people died due to AIDS in 2022.

Beyond the shadow of stigma: Internal stigma is out of the shadows at AIDS 2024

"Stigma can be so insidious. It cuts deep and affects all of us," said Shaun Mellors, Director, Community Stakeholder Engagement, ViiV Healthcare who was speaking on Zero HIV Stigma Day during the opening plenary of LIVING2024. “Every day should be Zero HIV Stigma day,” rightly said Shaun.

Underfunded fight against AIDS is failing to focus on people who are key to end AIDS

The fight against AIDS in Asia and the Pacific region is not only severely under-resourced but also struggling to focus on key populations. Key populations are not only more at risk of HIV acquisition but also have proven to be gamechangers when genuinely engaged in the HIV programmes at all levels.

Advanced HIV disease threatens to wither away the gains made in fight against AIDS

No one needs to die of AIDS because, thanks to science, lifesaving antiretroviral therapy and viral suppression can gift all people living with HIV a healthy and fulfilling life. But, unfortunately, many a slip between the cup and the lip. "Even one AIDS death is a death too many. Despite having the tools and scientific know-how to avert AIDS deaths, 630,000 people died of AIDS in 2022. Governments, donors, pharmaceutical and medical device manufacturing companies, HIV and health advocates and activists, and all other stakeholders could have done better if we were to avert AIDS-related deaths," said firebrand health and human rights activist Loon Gangte who leads Delhi Network of People living with HIV (DNP Plus) and International Treatment Preparedness Coalition (ITPC) in South Asian region.

Why are key populations on the blindspot in the global HIV response?

"Put people first is a reminder that the people we serve is at the very heart of our work” said Professor Sharon Lewin, International Co-Chairperson of world’s largest AIDS conference this year (25th International AIDS Conference or AIDS 2024). But when we look at the global HIV response, those people who are most at risk of the virus, are seldom receiving HIV and other health services with right, human dignity and without any stigma, discrimination or criminalisation.

We have more infection-prevention options now but are they actual choices for the people?

Scientific research and development has thankfully increased the number of prevention options we have today to stop the spread of several infections including HIV and TB. But are they actual choices for the people-at-risk of getting infected?

Putting people first means following Gandhi's Talisman

What can be a better explanation of what #PutPeopleFirst means than what was explained so candidly by Mahatma Gandhi. He had said: "I will give you a talisman. Whenever you are in doubt, or when the self becomes too much with you, apply the following test- Recall the face of the poorest and the weakest man [or woman or any gender] whom you may have seen, and ask yourself if the step you contemplate is going to be of any use to him [or her or them]. Will he [or she or they] gain anything by it? Will it restore him [or her or them] to a control over his [or her or their] own life and destiny? Then you will find your doubts melt away."

AIDS 2024: What to expect

Goa to Munich: Growing call for 100-100-100 to end TB and end AIDS before 2030

Over 1500 people from 73 countries are unequivocally demanding that all people with HIV or TB must have access to full cascade of standard health services and social support in people-centred, rights-based and gender transformative ways. Unless best of WHO recommended prevention, diagnostics, treatment, care and support reaches everyone in need globally, we cannot end TB or AIDS.

[podcast] Are we focussing on those struggling to access health services with equity & right?

This podcast features Sumit Mitra, President (International Sales), Molbio Diagnostics. He is speaking in lead up to 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) on what #PutPeopleFirst means to him.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, iVoox, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] #PutPeopleFirst means walking the talk on "Nothing About Us Without Us"

This podcast features Dr Kuldeep Singh Sachdeva, former head of Indian government's TB and HIV programmes (DDG), former South-East Asia Regional Director of International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (The Union) and currently serving as President-CMO of Molbio Diagnostics. He is speaking in lead up to 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) on what #PutPeopleFirst means to him.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, iVoox, and other podcast streaming platforms.

[podcast] Finding all people with TB especially those more at risk and linking them to care is key to end TB

This podcast features Dr Kamal Kishore Chopra who is a senior TB expert and former Director of New Delhi TB Centre, State Training and Demonstration Centre, and also part of the leadership of TB Association of India. He is speaking in lead up to 25th International AIDS Conference (AIDS 2024) on what #PutPeopleFirst means to him.

Listen to this podcast on Apple Podcasts, Amazon Music, Spotify, YouTube Podcasts, TuneIn, Podtail, BluBrry, Himalaya, ListenNotes, American Podcasts, CastBox FM, Ivy FM, Player FM, iVoox, and other podcast streaming platforms.

LEAD: Leveraging, engaging and advocating to disrupt TB transmission

Will #PutPeopleFirst mantra drive HIV responses?

Science has gifted us proven tools to stop the spread of HIV infection, as well as to ensure that all people living with HIV live healthy and fulfilling lives. But we failed to save 630,000 people with HIV who died in 2022.

[video] Veterinary surgeon shares experience of suffering due to antimicrobial resistance in Kenya

[video] What needs to change to keep the promise of ending TB and AIDS by 2030?

[video] What is new and next in HIV prevention?

[video] HIV and TB best practices in paradise (Philippines)

[video] AMR Dialogues | Mashood Lawal, Member of WHO Task Force of AMR Survivors

[video] Finding all people with TB especially those more at risk and linking them to care is key to end TB

(part-2) #AIDS2024 Affiliated Independent Event: Find all people with TB and HIV, treat all, save lives and stop the spread of both

(part-1) #AIDS2024 Affiliated Independent Event: Find all people with TB and HIV, treat all, save lives and stop the spread of both

[video] Lessons from providing HIV services to children and migrant workers in Gujarat

Call for 100-100-100 to end TB and end AIDS by 2030 or earlier

This call for 100-100-100 to end TB and end AIDS by 2030 or earlier was given at the AIDS 2024 Affiliated Independent Event organised on 4th of July 2024.