UN calls for community leadership on World AIDS Day

By Irmak Akcan

The UN has designated "Let Communities Lead" as the theme for this year's World AIDS Day, highlighting the crucial role of community leadership despite challenges like funding issues, capacity limits and pressures on civil society that impede progress in ending AIDS.

Dec. 1 is recognized as "World AIDS Day" to support those with HIV and remember those lost to AIDS.

HIV, which causes acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS), weakens the immune system by destroying cells involved in the body's defense against infections and other harmful invaders.

The weakening of the immune system can result in severe infections, and even cancer and similar illnesses may emerge.

Early detection is crucial to prevent transmission to healthy individuals and manage the patient's condition.

-'Let Communities Lead'

The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS (UNAIDS) said in a statement that AIDS can be eradicated under community leadership, emphasizing that communities affected by HIV and AIDS are at the forefront of the battle against these health issues.

It highlighted that these communities connect individuals through human-centered health services and effectively manage services and continuously monitor policies for AIDS and HIV prevention.

The statement emphasized that if obstacles faced by communities providing these services such as financial constraints, capacity limitations and pressures on civil society are removed, organizations managed by communities will play a more critical role in HIV and AIDS prevention efforts.

It stressed the importance of communities in addressing health issues despite disruptions in HIV and AIDS prevention efforts caused by such obstacles.

Emphasizing the central role of communities in seeking solutions, budgeting, observing, evaluating and implementing HIV and AIDS programs, it highlighted the slogan "Not ending AIDS costs more than ending it."

The statement also stressed the importance of removing barriers that hinder community leadership in HIV and AIDS efforts, highlighting the need to protect human rights, especially for marginalized communities, and called for the repeal of harmful laws while creating empowering ones.

- 9.2 million people worldwide without access to effective treatments

UNAIDS Executive Director Winnie Byanyima said there are approximately 9.2 million people worldwide who are living with HIV and do not have access to effective treatments.

Byanyima suggested however that AIDS could cease to be a threat to human health by 2030.

"To end AIDS, the path forward involves following the leadership of communities."

A report released by the World Health Organization (WHO) on July 13 revealed that HIV has so far caused approximately 40.4 million deaths. In 2022 alone, 630,000 people lost their lives due to HIV-related complications.

Data as of the end of 2022 show that around 39 million people worldwide have HIV, with approximately 1.3 million acquiring it last year.

Two-thirds of the 39 million people live in sub-Saharan African countries and Algeria.

The WHO and UNAIDS aim to end the HIV epidemic by 2030, with interim targets of 95% of the people living with HIV knowing their HIV status; 95% of people who know their HIV positive status on treatment; and 95% of people on treatment with suppressed viral loads—by 2025.

The WHO also announced that a World AIDS Day event will be held on Dec. 1 in Geneva to raise awareness.