
The World Health Organisation (WHO), Sunday, lauded the Africa region for the significant progress in fighting HIV/AIDS, with 21.3 million people now on antiretroviral treatment, raising their life expectancy.
The WHO regional director for Africa, Dr Matshidiso Rebecca Moeti, in her message to commemorate World AIDS Day 2024, said protecting human rights is a key component of achieving universal HIV care, and breaking down life-threatening barriers to access.
The theme for this World AIDS Day, “Take the rights path: My health, my right!” is a timely reminder of our responsibility to safeguard human rights as the world pursue the goal of HIV elimination by 2030.
“HIV is a complex health challenge, inseparable from social determinants such as poverty, gender inequality and violence, and complicated by stigma and discrimination, especially amongst marginalised populations.
“African countries have made significant progress, with the change in the trajectory of the epidemic over the past decade evidence of the notable successes in HIV control and response.
“This is despite having the highest HIV burden globally, and comparatively fewer resources to fight the epidemic,” she stated.