By Abdul Kareem

The UNAIDS Regional Office for West and Central Africa unveiled its latest AIDS Update Report on Tuesday, presenting a mixed bag of significant strides and persistent challenges in the battle against HIV/AIDS.

Encouraging Trends Amidst Adversity

“A decade ago, the West and Central Africa region was described as being ‘left behind’,” recalled the UNAIDS Regional Director, Berthilde Gahongayire. “Today, despite political instability, security challenges, and the lingering impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, we are witnessing encouraging results.”

The report highlights a 46% drop in the annual number of new HIV infections from 2010 to 2023. Yet, the battle is far from over, especially among key demographics. Adolescent girls and young women, aged 15 to 24, represented 19% of all new HIV infections in 2023. Alarmingly, within this age group, 80% of new infections were among girls.

Advances in Treatment and Testing

The report said significant progress has been made in access to HIV treatment. “The number of adults on antiretroviral treatment has more than doubled since 2015,” Gahongayirein  noted. Currently, 81% of people living with HIV in the region are aware of their status, 76% are receiving treatment, and 70% have achieved viral suppression.

Countries like Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo are nearing the ambitious 95-95-95 targets for HIV testing and treatment.

Persistent Gaps and Challenges

Despite these advances, the report underscores critical gaps, particularly in pediatric HIV treatment. Only 35% of children living with HIV received treatment in 2023. Additionally, the region hosts 20% of the world’s pregnant women living with HIV, yet more than half lack access to antiretroviral drugs.

Berthilde Gahongayire, UNAIDS Regional Director for West, Central Africa

Efforts to combat stigma and discrimination are underway, but survey data reveals a stark reality. Discriminatory attitudes toward people living with HIV remain prevalent, with 33% in Gabon and 79% in Mauritania expressing such views.

Funding and Sustainability Concerns

The report also points to a concerning decline in domestic funding for HIV initiatives, which decreased by 3% in 2023. Nevertheless, there was a 10% increase in total resources, driven primarily by international contributions. The Director emphasized the need for a sustainable response, highlighting a new holistic approach encompassing political leadership, enabling laws, equitable financing, high-impact services, and robust delivery systems.

A Call to Action

The report is aptly titled “The Urgency of the Moment: AIDS at the Crossroads.” The Director stressed, “A combination of strong political commitment, technical expertise, and community mobilization is crucial to continue our progress.”

The way forward, according to UNAIDS, involves scaling up prevention efforts, combating gender inequality, and eradicating HIV-related stigma and discrimination. “If we achieve these goals, we will be well on our way to ending AIDS by 2030,” the Director concluded, extending gratitude to international partners like France, Luxembourg, and Canada for their unwavering support.