World Failing to Stem AIDS Epidemic

NEW YORK, New York, December 1, 2003 (ENS) - World leaders and millions of people today took part in events and activities to mark World AIDS Day amid renewed concerns that the world is failing to slow the global AIDS epidemic. The vocal and often passionate commitments by the international community to stem the epidemic have not been matched by adequate resources, according to United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, and the disease is killing more than 8,000 people each day.

"The action is still far short of what is needed," Annan said in a message marking the occasion of World AIDS Day. "The epidemic continues its lethal march around the world, with few signs of slowing down."

In the year since the 2002 World AIDS Day, five million more people have become infected with HIV and some three million have died - including 500,000 children.

Some 40 million people are infected worldwide with HIV. Women now account for half of those infected worldwide and the UN estimates that every minute of every day 10 people become infected.

The world must step up efforts to combat AIDS/HIV, UN Secretary General Kofi Annan said. (Photo courtesy United Nations)

"HIV/AIDS strikes indiscriminately, but the poorest rural communities and households are always hit hardest," said Sissel Ekaas, director of the UN Food and Agricultural Organization's Gender and Population Division.

Sub-Saharan Africa has been dealt the biggest blow by the epidemic to date, with more than 26 million people infected with HIV. And the epidemic is reaping devastating social and economic consequences - 11 million African children have lost one or both parents to the disease.

Some seven million agricultural workers in rural Africa have died from AIDS in the 25 most affected countries since 1985, according to UN figures, and another 16 million could die from the disease by 2020.

The most affected African countries could lose up to 26 percent of their agricultural labor force.

Efforts by international bodies, national governments and non-governmental organizations have increased in recent years, Annan said, but these actions do not match the spread and scope of the epidemic.

Targets set out in the United Nations Declaration of Commitment - adopted in 2001 - will not be met unless nations act quickly and boldly, Annan said.

The declaration called on the UN to begin reducing the scale and impact of the epidemic by 2005, but Annan says the world is not on track to achieve any of its targets by then.

The UN secretary-general urged the international community to back up promises with the necessary resources and action, and leaders of three UN agencies announced a new initiative to get treatment to those most in need.

The new initiative sets the target of providing antiretroviral treatment to three million people living with AIDS in the world's poorest countries by the end of 2005. The treatments can turn the fatal disease into a manageable illness.

Women now account for more than half those infected with HIV. (Photo by John Isaac courtesy FAO)

"The lack of HIV treatment is without a doubt a global emergency," said Dr. Peter Piot, UNAIDS executive director. "We firmly believe that we stand no chance of halting this epidemic unless we dramatically scale up access to HIV care. "

The "3 by 5" plan calls for training 100,000 workers to help communities most at risk and for a broad effort to help local and national partners set up effective clinics and obtain inexpensive drugs.

The initiative centers on four drug combinations - these treatment programs have proven to be effective and cost less than $300 a year per individual, according to the UN.

The new plan was launched today by the World Health Organization (WHO), UNAIDS and the Global Fund to Fight AIDS, Tuberculosis and Malaria.

Increasing the supply of antiretroviral treatment does not just help the individuals who receive these drugs, experts say, it increases awareness and prevention in many high risk communities.

The 3 by 5 plan is considered by UN officials to be a vital step toward the goal of providing universal access to AIDS treatment to all those who need it, but they acknowledge that its success will rest on funding commitments of $5.5 billion over the next two years.

UN officials noted that there have been some promising signs on funding, in particular, the U.S. commitment of $2.4 billion in 2004 to an array of programs. But the need is such that even that commitment is but a drop in the bucket. the UN estimates some $10 billion a year is needed to begin to contain the disease.

"Preventing and treating AIDS may be the toughest health assignment the world has ever faced, but it is also the most urgent," said WHO Director General Dr. Lee Jong-wook. "We know what to do but what we urgently need now are the resources to do it."