AIDS status & challenges of the epidemic

1. Introduction: global targets on HIV/AIDS

In 2001, leaders from 189 UN Member States recognized that AIDS was one of the most urgent issues of national and international development. They signed the Declaration of Commitment on HIV/AIDS to help reach the Millennium Development Goal of stopping and beginning to reverse the epidemic by 2015. They also agreed to meet detailed targets, for instance in terms of funding, provision of information to young people, and access to treatment.

Global targets adopted for 2005:

• Total annual HIV expenditure should amount to US$ 7 - 10 billion.
• 90% of young people aged 15 – 24 should be able to correctly identify ways of preventing HIV transmission and reject major misconceptions about HIV transmission.
• 80% of HIV-positive pregnant women should receive antiretroviral treatment.
• 50% of people with advanced HIV infection should receive antiretroviral treatment.
• The share of young males and females, aged 15 – 24, who are HIV-infected should be reduced by 25% in the most affected countries
• The share of infected infants born in 2005 to HIV-positive mothers should be reduced by 20%.

Only the annual global expenditure target was fully achieved in 2005 with US$8.3 billion spent on HIV. More...