WHO “To end AIDS, inequality of treatment and social stigma must be addressed”

On World AIDS Day, the World Health Organization (WHO) announced that in order to achieve the goal of ending AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) by 2030, inequality needs to be addressed in the treatment of diseases.

In particular, it was stressed that every country should conduct treatment and prevention activities with an open attitude so that AIDS patients do not hide the fact that they are infected and avoid treatment out of fear of social stigma or discrimination.

In a statement released on 1 (local time), the WHO underlined that “many people infected with HIV, which causes AIDS, do not have access to the services they desperately need, such as antiretroviral treatment, to overcome the illness”.

December 1st of each year is World AIDS Day. This day was designated December 1, 1988, to raise awareness of the danger of “human immunodeficiency virus (HIV),” which is on the rise around the world, and to reduce discrimination and prejudice against AIDS.

According to WHO, there are 38 million people living with HIV worldwide. Of these, 5.9 million, or nearly 16%, are unable to receive treatment even when they know they are infected with HIV.

This includes cases where medical services around patients are weak or their economic situation is not good, and there are cases where patients avoid treatment due to concerns about social stigma.

In fact, many people are infected with HIV but have not even been diagnosed. WHO estimates that there may be 4 million undiagnosed HIV infections.

In particular, the exclusion of children from HIV treatment is seen as a major obstacle to ending AIDS.

Children are often infected by HIV-infected mothers during pregnancy, childbirth and breastfeeding.

While 76% of HIV-infected adults are receiving antiretroviral treatment, only 52% of HIV-infected children are receiving treatment as of last year.

WHO has highlighted the need for countries to make efforts to ensure that AIDS treatment services are provided without discrimination even in low-income and marginalized areas, while avoiding that patients suffer social stigma or discrimination.

AIDS was also found to be related to a group of patients suffering from ‘Mpox’ (formerly known as monkeypox). Smallpox M has been indicated as a difficulty in the process of coping with the disease because patients are afraid of the gaze of people around them and are reluctant to seek treatment due to the characteristic that many cases of infection are caused by sexual contact between men .

According to WHO, 52% of Mpox patients are also infected with HIV.

WHO has suggested that the community should be open to treatment and prevention activities so that patients do not tend to hide their infection.

Dr Meg Doherty, head of HIV work at WHO, said: ‘It doesn’t matter who has AIDS or where they live, treatment services should not be denied.’

Lee Seung-gu Online reporter [email protected]

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