Jakarta – The number of HIV-positive people continues to increase every year. From UNAIDS epidemiological data, by 2021 the number of people living with HIV will reach 38.4 million. The epidemic situation in women’s and children’s groups shows an alarming number. This was discussed in the World AIDS Day 2022 press briefing Lets Equalize, No Woman and Child Left Behind on 25 November 2022.
In Indonesia, about 543,100 people are living with HIV with an estimated 27,000 new cases of infection in 2021. 40 percent of new cases of infection occur in women, while more than 51 percent occur in adolescents ( 15-24 years) and 12 percent of new infections in children. Unfortunately, only 28 percent received ARV treatment. Indonesia ranks third lowest in Asia Pacific for ARV treatment coverage along with Pakistan and Afghanistan.
Almost half of new cases of HIV infection in children have been confirmed to come from mothers who have not received ARV therapy. The data also show that many mothers interrupt therapy during pregnancy and breastfeeding. Additionally, there are legal barriers making it difficult for mothers to test for HIV and start antiretroviral therapy before becoming pregnant, resulting in an increasing number of transmission cases.
Considering that women and children living with HIV are key populations they should be a priority in ending the AIDS epidemic. Unfortunately, they still face various challenges to deal with. For pregnant and breastfeeding women, the reason for discontinuing therapy is due to limited access to health care facilities, cost, stigma and discrimination from immediate environment, and side effects of medications.
Furthermore, it is not easy for children and adolescents to access health services. Limitations of special medicines for children and legal barriers such as age requirement policies are also the reasons for the difficulty in obtaining treatment. Not to mention knowledge of HIV issues, sexual and reproductive health, social stigma and lack of family support make it more difficult for them to access antiretroviral therapy.
To realize the AIDS epidemic in 2030, everyone must step up prevention efforts, everyone who tests positive must immediately undergo ARV treatment, and everyone who undergoes treatment must be disciplined to get their viral load suppressed. In addition, UNAIDS and global partners will also form a New Global Alliance to End AIDS in Children and charitable activities which will be inaugurated on 1 December 2022.
“Multisectoral strengthening is important to gain sufficient support for HIV programmes. Countries must also prioritize HIV program funding. In this way, I am confident that we can all end AIDS by 2030,” said Krittayawan Boonto.
