UN warns of complacency in fight against AIDS [The Morning Call]

Remarkable progress has been recorded in HIV/AIDS treatment but its not hurray! yet. A “dangerous complacency” as funding dwindles, the UN warns, risks a resurgence of the disease is likely and progress achieved so far could be eroded.

UNAIDS on wednesday July 18, announced the lowest annual death toll in two decades for 2017 but cautioned that a creeping “complacency” threatened these achievements. It announced a record number of people on life-saving treatment.

It is the goal of the UN that by the year 2020, ninety percent of HIV-positive people will know their status. Of these, at least 90 percent must receive ART, but UNAIDS has warned this target is also at risk.

Aids experts and advocates will gather in Amsterdam from July 23 to 27 amid growing concern that the epidemic could be facing a resurgence. It is twenty-six years since they last met in the same city for what was the world’s biggest gathering of experts on a disease that was then steadily rising around the world with widespread fear.