He continued, "Every new case of HIV transmission is an opportunity to do a reality check on how it could have been averted. Every case of late or missed HIV diagnosis; delay in putting people living with HIV on treatment; stigma and discrimination blocking access to care; or people living with HIV not being virally suppressed, are among reality checks we cannot fail to miss, if we are to end AIDS. These reality checks will inform us of corrective actions that are needed to be on track to end AIDS. Most importantly, game-changing insights of finding solutions that will work in local contexts of communities and regions, come from people who are most affected. We must ensure that all people living with HIV know their status, all of them receive ART and remain virally suppressed, and no further transmission of HIV takes place, thereby making Undetectable = Untransmissible (U=U) a reality.
"UNAIDS targets of achieving 90-90-90 are not only critical but central to meet these goals. But no less emphasis should be given to ensure that while we progress towards (and beyond) 90-90-90, we must also optimally utilize every scientific, evidence-based prevention option, so that new HIV-infection rates decline steeply to hit zero as soon as possible. Whole concept of epidemic control lies not only in reaching the treatment targets of diagnosis, treatment and viral suppression, but also it has to include essential needs of primary prevention, stigma reduction (ideally elimination), and human rights-based approaches," remarked Dr Gilada.
Dr Gilada shared that AIDS Society of India had advocated for a strong policy to combat HIV stigma. The HIV/AIDS (Prevention and Control) Act 2017 in India is an important milestone, as the law has several provisions to strengthen HIV care for people living with HIV and prevent their discrimination and human-rights violations. But a lot more progress needs to happen on law enforcement to advance HIV care with dignity.
With only 129 months left to end AIDS by 2030, we need to reflect urgency in improving the HIV response, in every country, as well as for every key population - we need to walk-the-talk on 'no one is left behind' principle. "We need to deliver with what we have today, which means comprehensive prevention (such as condoms, oral pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-Exposure Prophylaxis (PEP), and other evidence-based tools to prevent HIV transmission), human-rights-based approaches, along with scaling-up treatment, support and care."
Bobby Ramakant - CNS (Citizen News Service)
Twitter @bobbyramakant, @CNS_health
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