{"id":3076,"date":"2024-11-25T08:00:00","date_gmt":"2024-11-25T14:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/ahflatamycaribe.org\/en-verdad-estamos-cerca-de-acabar-con-el-sida\/"},"modified":"2024-12-06T14:47:41","modified_gmt":"2024-12-06T20:47:41","slug":"are-we-really-close-to-ending-aids","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/ahflatamycaribe.org\/en\/are-we-really-close-to-ending-aids\/","title":{"rendered":"Are we really close to ending AIDS?"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

The question of whether we are close to ending AIDS<\/strong> has been asked by humanity for decades. Advances in research, prevention<\/strong> and treatment have been significant, and it is true that today we are at a point much further ahead<\/strong> than we were ten or twenty years ago.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

However, it is worth analyzing the current situation more thoroughly to confidently affirm that we are defeating AIDS<\/strong> as a global health concern.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Progress Toward Ending AIDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

The first thing we must remember is that AIDS is not the same<\/strong> as HIV. The latter is the virus that attacks the immune system. When a person with HIV does not receive adequate treatment<\/strong>, they may progress to an advanced stage called AIDS, where an opportunistic infection could be life-threatening.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Fortunately, today there is antiretroviral treatment<\/strong>. Since the first medications were developed, the lives of people with HIV have radically<\/strong> transformed. Access to these treatments has saved millions of lives and significantly improved their quality of life, while also drastically reducing AIDS-related mortality<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Undetectable=Untransmittable<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Another of the most important steps taken against HIV is treatment as prevention<\/strong>. This means that antiretroviral treatment not only allows those taking it to lead healthy lives but also helps reduce transmission<\/strong> of the virus, as people who achieve an undetectable viral load cannot transmit HIV.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This principle is known as \u201cUndetectable=Untransmittable\u201d<\/strong> (U=U), which asserts that a person with HIV who has an undetectable viral load has 0% probability<\/strong> of transmitting the virus through sexual contact. This approach has revolutionized prevention and helped reduce stigma<\/strong> around this health condition.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Resources Are Needed to End AIDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

Despite medical and scientific achievements, the main challenge<\/strong> to ending AIDS is ensuring that all people with HIV have access to antiretroviral treatment<\/strong>, so that the benefits of the medications can be realized at both individual and community levels. However, this requires allocating the necessary resources<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

This is where governments, pharmaceutical companies, and some official entities have not shown<\/strong> full commitment. Although all UN member countries signed a political declaration<\/a> in 2021 to end AIDS by 2030<\/strong>, this agreement is not always reflected in budgets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

A clear example is Argentina<\/strong>, where President Javier Milei’s government, in its 2025 budget law<\/strong> proposal, has suggested a 76% cut<\/a> to the response to HIV, viral hepatitis, sexually transmitted infections, and tuberculosis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the case of HIV alone, this would drastically limit<\/strong> the purchase of antiretroviral treatments and tests for viral load and CD4 cells, which are key to monitoring the health<\/strong> 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<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

There Is Still Much to Do to End AIDS<\/h2>\n\n\n\n

All of the above reminds us not to let our guard down. While antiretroviral treatment can control the infection, it does not eliminate it<\/strong>. This means that if medications are stopped, the virus can mutate and develop resistance to treatment<\/strong>, and transmission would once again become possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Another major pending task is ensuring that the latest medical advances<\/strong> available in developed countries reach all social contexts, as most new HIV cases<\/strong> are recorded in developing countries.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public policies and investment in health<\/strong> are two starting points that cannot be overlooked if we want to end AIDS worldwide. The response to HIV requires global commitment and collaboration<\/strong>, as well as a more equitable distribution of resources.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Therefore, although we cannot claim<\/strong> 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<\/strong>. The most important thing is not to backtrack.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Remember that at AHF Latin America and the Caribbean<\/strong>, we offer HIV services for everyone, without discrimination. If you want to take a free detection test<\/strong>, locate our offices in your city or contact us via WhatsApp<\/a>. We are present in 12 countries in the region.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Los avances en la investigaci\u00f3n, la prevenci\u00f3n y el tratamiento han sido significativos para acabar con el sida. Con todo esto, \u00bfpodemos cantar victoria?<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":5,"featured_media":2941,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[50],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-3076","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-living-well-with-hiv-en"],"aioseo_notices":[],"aioseo_head":"\n\t\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t\n\t\t