The question of whether we are close to ending AIDS has been asked by humanity for decades. Advances in research, prevention and treatment have been significant, and it is true that today we are at a point much further ahead than we were ten or twenty years ago.
However, it is worth analyzing the current situation more thoroughly to confidently affirm that we are defeating AIDS as a global health concern.
Progress Toward Ending AIDS
The first thing we must remember is that AIDS is not the same as HIV. The latter is the virus that attacks the immune system. When a person with HIV does not receive adequate treatment, they may progress to an advanced stage called AIDS, where an opportunistic infection could be life-threatening.
Fortunately, today there is antiretroviral treatment. Since the first medications were developed, the lives of people with HIV have radically transformed. Access to these treatments has saved millions of lives and significantly improved their quality of life, while also drastically reducing AIDS-related mortality.
Undetectable=Untransmittable
Another of the most important steps taken against HIV is treatment as prevention. This means that antiretroviral treatment not only allows those taking it to lead healthy lives but also helps reduce transmission of the virus, as people who achieve an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV.
This principle is known as “Undetectable=Untransmittable” (U=U), which asserts that a person with HIV who has an undetectable viral load has 0% probability of transmitting the virus through sexual contact. This approach has revolutionized prevention and helped reduce stigma around this health condition.
Resources Are Needed to End AIDS
Despite medical and scientific achievements, the main challenge to ending AIDS is ensuring that all people with HIV have access to antiretroviral treatment, so that the benefits of the medications can be realized at both individual and community levels. However, this requires allocating the necessary resources.
This is where governments, pharmaceutical companies, and some official entities have not shown full commitment. Although all UN member countries signed a political declaration in 2021 to end AIDS by 2030, this agreement is not always reflected in budgets.
A clear example is Argentina, where President Javier Milei’s government, in its 2025 budget law proposal, has suggested a 76% cut to the response to HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis.
In the case of HIV alone, this would drastically limit the purchase of antiretroviral treatments and tests for viral load and CD4 cells, which are key to monitoring the health of those living with the virus. The shortages have already begun to be felt during 2024, with constant shortages of some medications, follow-up tests, and even condoms.
There Is Still Much to Do to End AIDS
All of the above reminds us not to let our guard down. While antiretroviral treatment can control the infection, it does not eliminate it. This means that if medications are stopped, the virus can mutate and develop resistance to treatment, and transmission would once again become possible.
Another major pending task is ensuring that the latest medical advances available in developed countries reach all social contexts, as most new HIV cases are recorded in developing countries.
Public policies and investment in health are two starting points that cannot be overlooked if we want to end AIDS worldwide. The response to HIV requires global commitment and collaboration, as well as a more equitable distribution of resources.
Therefore, although we cannot claim that we are on the verge of ending AIDS, the progress is undeniable and sets the stage for HIV to become a chronic, manageable, and non-transmissible condition. The most important thing is not to backtrack.
Remember that at AHF Latin America and the Caribbean, we offer HIV services for everyone, without discrimination. If you want to take a free detection test, locate our offices in your city or contact us via WhatsApp. We are present in 12 countries in the region.
