27 November 2011
It's 30 years since the first case of AIDS was diagnosed. And although life saving treatment has prevented more than 2.5 million deaths since 1995, there are still more than 34 million people living with HIV today.
As we mark World AIDS Day on Thursday 1 December, the UK remains strongly committed to preventing HIV infection and giving more people access to diagnosis, treatment, care and support. We're working with key populations who are most at risk of HIV infection, funding HIV research and reducing the cost of life saving drugs.
Watch both the Prime Minister's message and the Deputy Prime Minister's message to hear about the progress that has been made and the challenges we still need to address.
Infections are down, treatment is up
Globally, new infections are falling. For example, in sub-Saharan Africa HIV infections have dropped by more than 26% from the height of the epidemic in 1997. The price of first-line HIV drugs have been reduced by 99% in 10 years and there are nearly 7 million people living on life saving drugs in developing countries, compared to just a few thousands 10 years ago.
Alongside new evidence on preventing the transmission of HIV, we can set our sights on getting to zero new infections, zero AIDS deaths and zero stigma and discrimination.
But significant challenges need to be overcome. Around 10 million people in need of treatment are not getting it and there are more than 7,400 new HIV infections everyday – two for every person newly put on treatment.
Getting to zero
International Development Secretary, Andrew Mitchell, spoke ahead of World AIDS Day about the UK Government's efforts to prevent HIV and save lives in the world's poorest countries. He said:
"We are concentrating our efforts where they will have the greatest impact - particularly in Africa with the largest burden of HIV - and will prevent at least half a million HIV infections among women.
"Britain is also supporting 268,000 HIV positive people with treatment and 37,000 women with treatment to prevent transmission to their babies.
"Our plans are underpinned by our drive to empower women and girls and ensuring value for money by reducing the costs of treatments and targeting investments based on evidence of what works."
Giving women access to female condoms
This week Parliamentary Under Secretary of State for International Development, Stephen O'Brien, is taking part in the International Conference on Family Planning which will focus on integrating HIV and sexual and reproductive health services.
Speaking on World AIDS Day he announced that the UK will help supply at least 13.5 million more female condoms at current prices through the UNFPA’s Global Programme to Enhance Reproductive Commodity Security. It is hoped even more will be bought, as this injection of £5 million will be used to work with manufacturers to drive down prices further and provide better value for money.
In some areas of the world, young women are more than twice as likely to contract HIV. For women unable to persuade their husband or partner to wear a male condom, the female condom is essential. But globally in 2009, only one female condom was available for every 36 women.
Case study: "We can have an HIV negative baby"
Amon is accompanying his wife, Mwenzi, to the maternal health clinic for their youngest daughter's medical check up. Male involvement in maternal, child and HIV matters is rare in Zambia. But thanks to a UK aid project carried out by Alliance Zambia and a range of community organisations, men are encouraged to find out how to keep their families healthy and free of HIV.
Amon is HIV positive and was diagnosed when he was ill with TB. He has two daughters Violet, who is five years old and Taonga, who is three years old. He explains why he accompanies Mwenzi to the maternal health clinic.
"I always go with Mwenzi to the clinic. I learned a lot about children and pregnancy. Women don't have to die with their pregnancy at home. If we want another baby we have to go to the clinic and they will tell us what to do so we can have an HIV negative baby.
"I was with Mwenzi when I learned I was HIV positive. We did the test together. Bwafwano Community Care gives me good support. They care about us."
Mwenzi and both daughters are HIV negative.
For many women, attending maternal health and HIV services is impossible if their husbands or male partners do not agree to it. Often this is down to a lack of information and understanding of maternal, child and HIV healthcare issues. This is being addressed by male only community discussions and dialogues, such as those that Bwafwano Community Care hold weekly as a result of UK aid.
Our partnership with the International AIDS Alliance will help 3.7 million people through HIV prevention, treatment, care and support services by 2014.
Read the full story on the International AIDS Alliance website.
How UKaid is helping to tackle HIV and AIDS